Pop Quiz

Which of these do not exist? A. Anorexic Sumo wrestler B. Unicorn C. “Smoker’s Cough” D. Prince Charming E. All of the above Answer: E. Yes, all of the above. “Smoker’s cough” simply doesn’t exist. For Patients | Consult Your Doctor for Reason Behind the Cough • If your cough lasts for more than two ... Read more

Pop Quiz

Which of these do not exist?
A. Anorexic Sumo wrestler
B. Unicorn
C. “Smoker’s Cough”
D. Prince Charming
E. All of the above

Answer: E.

Yes, all of the above. “Smoker’s cough” simply doesn’t exist.

For Patients | Consult Your Doctor for Reason Behind the Cough
• If your cough lasts for more than two or three months, it’s important to talk with your healthcare professional to determine the cause.
• If you’re a smoker or live with a smoker now or previously, it’s especially important to determine the cause.

For Healthcare Professionals | Don’t Treat Every Cough Alike
Find out your patient’s history.
• If there’s no history of smoking, ask if your patient’s parents, siblings, or spouses smoked in his/her presence.
• If the answer is yes AND your patient has a chronic cough (but no acid reflux or history of taking ACE-inhibitors), it behooves you to test further for more serious conditions.
• These conditions include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and throat or lung cancer.
• The sooner the diagnosis, the sooner your patient can get appropriate care and start life-improving measures.

Key Point: there is no such thing as a “smoker’s cough!”