Why Do We Cough?

What You'll Learn

• Dust, mucus, germs, or food can trigger a cough
• A cough starts when tiny sensors in your throat detect an intruder
• Coughing pushes air out fast to blow the irritant away

Words to Know

Cough

A sudden burst of air from your lungs

"I coughed to clear my throat."

Airway

The tube that carries air to your lungs

"Dust got into my airway."

Mucus

Sticky liquid that traps germs and dust

"Mucus caught the dust I inhaled."

Irritant

Something that bothers your body

"Smoke is an irritant that makes you cough."

Check What You Learned

Fun Facts

• A cough is a protective reflex that clears the airways of irritants, mucus, and foreign particles

  Source: American Lung Association

• Cough receptors in the airway detect mechanical and chemical irritants and signal the brain

  Source: Journal of Physiology

• A cough expels air at speeds up to 50 mph (80 km/h)

  Source: Cleveland Clinic

• The respiratory tract produces mucus to trap dust, germs, and particles

  Source: American Thoracic Society

• Coughing is a symptom of many conditions, including colds, allergies, and asthma

  Source: Mayo Clinic

• Covering coughs with the elbow reduces germ transmission

  Source: CDC