Morning cough: 8 possible causes and treatments - Medical News Today

Posted: 30 Mar 2021 03:34 AM PDT

Postnasal drip occurs when excess mucus from the nose drips down the back of the throat, leading to an upper airway cough. Other symptoms of postnasal drip include:

sore throat
swallowing frequently
feeling a lump in the throat

Sometimes, postnasal drip is a temporary issue when a person has an infection, such as a cold or flu, or allergies to something in the environment, including seasonal allergies.

In other cases, postnasal drip can be a more chronic problem.

People with chronic congestion from a deviated septum or gastroesophageal reflux may experience frequent postnasal drip. Advancing age may also increase the risk.

Treatment options

If an infection is causing postnasal drip, it will usually disappear on its own. If it lasts longer than a few weeks, a person may need antibiotics to clear a bacterial infection.

The following remedies may also help:

drinking lots of water
sleeping in a room with a humidifier
sleeping with the head slightly elevated

Asthma causes chronic airway inflammation and irritation. This can trigger asthma attacks, during which the airway narrows and a person struggles to breathe. They may also have a wheezing or whistling sound coming from their chest.

An individual may also have chronic respiratory problems, such as a cough. Some people may notice this cough is worse at night or in the morning.

In certain types of asthma, a chronic cough is the only symptom.

Treatment options

Some people with asthma find that allergens or other triggers cause their cough. This can include pollen, air pollution, or certain weather conditions. Avoiding or limiting exposure to these triggers can be helpful.

A doctor may also prescribe a rescue inhaler for asthma attacks or asthma medicine to reduce inflammation in the airway.

Bronchitis refers to inflammation in the bronchial tubes, which help air travel to the lungs.

Sometimes, a bacterial or viral infection can cause this condition — these infections can occur after a cold or flu.

Symptoms include:

Viral bronchitis usually goes away on its own. People may require antibiotics to treat any complications of bronchitis, such as pneumonia.

A person can also develop chronic bronchitis, which may cause long-term or recurring inflammation in the bronchial tubes.

Treatment options

Treatment focuses on removing the source of inflammation, such as avoiding smoking or second-hand smoke, and using medications to reduce swelling and inflammation.

The throat and mouth can become dry at night, especially if people:

do not drink enough fluids
sleep in a dry room
sleep with their mouth open

This can cause the tissue at the back of the throat to feel irritated and scratchy, leading to a morning cough. People may also experience:

trouble swallowing
hoarse voice
a burning feeling

Individuals may find the problem resolves by drinking more water, especially in the morning.

In some cases, chronic dry mouth may appear due to underlying health conditions, such as Sjögren's syndrome, or medications such as diuretics.

Treatment options

If people find no relief by drinking more water or using a humidifier, they can consult with their doctor, who can check for underlying causes.

With GERD, stomach acid travels back up the esophagus, causing a burning, painful sensation and frequent heartburn.

People may experience symptoms at night if they eat shortly before lying down, which may lead to morning hoarseness or coughing.

Severe GERD may also irritate the throat or lungs, causing a chronic cough or difficulty swallowing.

Treatment options

Routine changes, such as consuming fewer acidic foods and eating at least 3 hours before lying down, may help. Some people may also find relief from sleeping with their head slightly elevated or by using over-the-counter antacids.

If these treatments are not effective, a doctor may prescribe medication or recommend surgery.

COPD is a chronic and progressive disease that makes it harder to breathe.

Over time, the condition damages the tiny air sacs in the lungs, making it harder for the lungs to exchange gas and take in oxygen.

Symptoms can include:

coughing
wheezing
shortness of breath
low energy

People may experience mild symptoms initially, which may become more severe over time.

Treatment options

Although there is no cure for COPD, a number of routine changes may help to ease symptoms, such as:

getting more exercise
quitting smoking
medication to help open the airways
oxygen therapy
breathing treatments

Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid produces too little thyroid hormone. It may cause a person's voice to sound hoarse. Some people also have a sensation of something stuck in the throat, which can cause a cough.

While some notice a cough throughout the day, it may be worse in the morning when the throat is dry.

Treatment options

Medication can treat hypothyroidism, but it may take several months of treatments to notice an improvement in the voice.

Certain types of cancer, including lung cancer, may cause a chronic cough. In some people, this cough may be worse in the morning.

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a cough from cancer and other types of coughs, so it is important to speak with a doctor about any persistent coughing.

Treatment options

Treatment depends on the type of cancer a person has, but strategies may include radiation or chemotherapy.

An occasional morning cough might mean a person has a dry throat or mild allergies. Chronic coughing, either in the morning or at other times, may indicate a chronic medical condition that needs treatment.

People should speak with a doctor if:

symptoms continue even after treatment for an infection
coughing persists for more than a few weeks
they cough up blood
they have other symptoms, such as a fever or trouble breathing
a newborn has a cough

Visit the emergency room if a person is experiencing a cough with chest pain, shortness of breath, or confusion, or they are coughing up large quantities of blood.

Most coughs are treatable. Even in the cases of a serious underlying medical condition, such as cancer, early intervention may greatly improve outcomes.

If people have an unexplained, persistent cough, they can consult with a doctor. Healthcare professionals can help assess symptoms and carry out tests to determine the underlying cause of the cough and recommend treatment options.

Can you get lung cancer from smoking weed? Risks and more - Medical News Today

Posted: 29 Mar 2021 12:00 AM PDT

Scientists are not sure if smoking weed can cause lung cancer. However, cannabis smoke contains many of the same chemicals as tobacco smoke, which doctors know can cause lung cancer.

Additionally, many people use both cannabis and tobacco. As people who smoke tobacco are 15–30 times more likely to develop or die from lung cancer than those who do not, mixing cannabis with tobacco use will impact a person's risk.

In this article, we will look in more detail at whether you can get lung cancer from smoking weed. We will also look at the other ways cannabis may affect the lungs and discuss the safest methods for using it.

Researchers are not sure if smoking weed can cause lung cancer. However, there are similarities between tobacco smoke and cannabis smoke. This may mean that smoking cannabis contributes to a person's lung cancer risk.

Smoking any product is harmful to the lungs. When plants burn, they release chemicals that can cause cancer. These are known as carcinogens.

When people inhale carcinogens, it damages cell DNA in the nose, mouth, esophagus, and lungs. Over time, this raises the risk that cells will grow in abnormal ways and form a tumor.

Tobacco smoke is linked to 80–90% of lung cancer deaths in the United States. Cannabis smoke contains many of the same toxins. In fact, compared with the carcinogens in cigarette smoke, cannabis smoke contains:

about 50% more benzopyrene
about 75% more benzanthracene
more phenols, vinyl chlorides, nitrosamines, and reactive oxygen species

Because people inhale more deeply when smoking cannabis, it also leads to four times the amount of tar deposits in the lungs compared to cigarettes.

However, people use tobacco and cannabis in different ways, which may affect cannabis smoke's impact on lung cancer risk. For example, people may smoke cannabis less often than people typically smoke tobacco, as its effects last longer than nicotine.

It can also be challenging to determine whether cannabis or tobacco is responsible for lung cancer, as people often use both. Overall, scientists need to perform more studies to assess the risk.

Cannabis smoke can harm the lungs in several ways. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, cannabis smoke affects people by:

irritating the throat and lungs
increasing inflammation, or swelling, in the airways
increasing airway resistance, creating less room for air to move in and out
leading to hyperinflation, which occurs when air gets trapped inside the lungs, making it more difficult for the body to pull in fresh air
damaging or scarring small blood vessels in the lungs

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regularly smoking cannabis also increases the risk of respiratory side effects, such as:

coughing
wheezing
overproduction of phlegm

Some studies indicate that smoking cannabis may cause or worsen other lung conditions. These include:

Bronchitis

Bronchitis occurs when the airways swell. The symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

According to the Ameri c an Lung Association, people who regularly smoke cannabis may be more at risk for acute bronchitis. Over time, lung damage may lead to chronic bronchitis.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is the result of a severe lung infection. It can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi.

The tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis can suppress the immune system, which some scientists suggest may put cannabis smokers at risk for respiratory infections, such as pneumonia.

However, studies on this have mixed results. Some find no connection between cannabis use and pneumonia.

The symptoms of pneumonia include:

a cough that produces green, yellow, or bloody mucus
fever
sweating
chills
shortness of breath
shallow breathing
sharp chest pain that worsens when breathing deeply or coughing
fatigue
feeling sick
confusion

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Smoking cannabis with tobacco can contribute to the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is a chronic condition that gets worse over time. There is no cure.

Symptoms include:

coughing or wheezing
overproduction of phlegm
shortness of breath
difficulty taking a deep breath

As with cannabis smoke a person directly inhales, secondhand cannabis smoke contains many of the same carcinogens as tobacco smoke. This means it may cause harm to others in a household who are exposed to the smoke.

Secondhand cannabis smoke also contains THC. This means that people can experience a "high" from inhaling it. Exposure to THC from a young age may impact brain development, causing problems with attention and memory.

Smoking is not the only way to use cannabis. Some people choose to vape, dab, or consume edibles, for example.

However, it is worth noting that many of these methods are relatively new. As a result, scientists have not yet studied their health effects in depth.

Vaping

Vaping cannabis involves using a device, such as a vape pen, to heat and vaporize oils contained in cannabis. This eliminates the need for smoke.

However, there is not enough evidence to prove that vaping cannabis is safe. This method may have similar risks to electronic cigarette use.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported hundreds of cases of serious illness and several deaths that are linked with vaping. Many of the products included THC, nicotine, or a mixture of both. Currently, it is not clear which compound causes these illnesses.

Dabbing

Dabbing involves inhaling a concentrated dose of THC through a dab rig, which is a type of vaporizer.

Many people believe this is safer than smoking or vaping. However, the American Lung Association says dabbing may also lead to respiratory problems.

Edibles

Edibles such as candies, gummies, and beverages have become a popular way to use cannabis. They eliminate the need to inhale smoke or other substances, making edibles safer for the lungs than smoking or vaping.

However, there are downsides to using edibles. Compared to smoking, they:

take longer to work
can be difficult to control in terms of potency
last longer in the body

This means that if a person experiences side effects from using cannabis, they may be more severe or last longer than the side effects of smoking it. A person may also accidentally take too much.

In high doses, cannabis may cause:

It is not clear if there is an entirely safe way to use cannabis. Because many alternatives to smoking are new, doctors do not know much about their long-term effects.

Some states in the U.S. have legalized the use of cannabis on medical grounds. One of the most common uses is to treat the pain and nausea associated with cancer or chemotherapy.

In cases where there is a medical benefit to using cannabis, people can work with a doctor to weigh the risks against the potential benefits.

Scientists cannot be sure if smoking weed causes lung cancer. What they do know is that cannabis smoke contains many of the same cancer-causing chemicals as tobacco smoke. As a result, there may be some risks.

Smoking cannabis can irritate the throat and lungs and may contribute to lung conditions such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and COPD. Other methods of using cannabis, such as vaping and edibles, may be safer than smoking. However, their long-term impact is still unknown.

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