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!”