Understanding Refractory Chronic Cough: What You Need to Know Have you ever faced a cough that simply refuses to subside? While most coughs resolve independently, some persist for an unacceptable length of time—weeks, months, or even years. This condition is known as refractory chronic cough (RCC), and it is a significant issue that demands attention in the medical community, especially among specialists in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) care. In this blog post, we will clearly outline what RCC is, why it occurs, and the most promising treatments available to those suffering from relentless coughing. What is Refractory Chronic Cough? A chronic cough is defined as one that lasts longer than eight weeks in adults. For many individuals, it is associated with conditions such as asthma, allergies, acid reflux, or certain medications. However, there are instances where the cough continues even after these underlying causes have been effectively ad...
Which sphincter prevents regurgitation of food from the stomach? Our food pipe starts in the neck and connects the back of the throat to the stomach. At both ends of the food pipe or oesophagus, there is a ring of muscle which prevents food and acid from the stomach from coming back into the throat. Which conditions can present as regurgitation or dysphagia? Regurgitation of undigested food or acid can be due to slowly growing conditions such as: The tightness of the upper ring muscle (Cricopharyngeal spasm) Web formation in the food pipe Out-pouching of the food pipe (Pharyngeal Pouch) Stricture or tightness of the food pipe because of a previous injury such as a burn The food pipe muscles unable to relax due to a stroke. In some cases, it can present suddenly due to obstruction of the food pipe due to a foreign body. You should attend A&E if you suspect that you have a sudden onset complete dysphagia. In some patients, this can be the presentation of cancer in the food...