What may increase your risk of problems from a cough?
Many conditions, diseases, medications, and lifestyle choices interfere with your ability to heal or fight infection. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.
Conditions
- Age under 3 months
- Age over 60
- Exposure to asbestos
- Living with smokers or being regularly exposed to secondhand smoke
- Previous surgery to remove the spleen (splenectomy)
- Recent hospitalization (may increase your risk for pneumonia)
Lifestyle choices
- Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
- Drug abuse or withdrawal
- Occupational exposure to smoke, dust, or fumes
- Smoking or other tobacco use
Medications
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as captopril (Capoten), enalapril maleate (Vasotec), or lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, or Zestoretic)
- Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
- Medications to prevent organ transplant rejection
- Medications used to treat cancer (chemotherapy)
- Radiation therapy
Diseases
- Chronic upper respiratory illnesses such as chronic sinusitis, otitis media, or tonsillitis
- Chronic lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, emphysema), bronchopulmonary dysplasia, cystic fibrosis, chronic bronchitis, or tuberculosis (TB), bronchiectasis
- Diabetes
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Heart disease, especially heart failure
- History of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or spontaneous pneumothorax
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Stroke
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: February 25, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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