This Publication Is Searchable The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy Section 6. Pulmonary Disorders Chapter 63. Coughing helps protect the lungs against aspiration. Differences among several sites from which cough stimuli can originate may result in variations in the sounds and patterns of coughing.
Laryngeal stimulation produces a choking type of cough without a preceding inspiration.
Awareness of cough varies considerably. A cough can be distressing when it appears suddenly, especially if associated with discomfort due to chest pain, dyspnea, or copious secretions. A cough induced by postural change may suggest chronic lung abscess, cavitary TB, bronchiectasis, or a pedunculated tumor, whereas a cough associated with eating suggests a disturbance of the swallowing mechanism or possibly a tracheoesophageal fistula. A cough that appears on exposure to cold air or during exercise may suggest asthma. A morning cough persisting until sputum is expectorated typifies chronic bronchitis.