Cough: An ominous symptom and a life saving manoeuvre in cardiology

Cough is a common symptom in cardiovascular disorders and may be defined as an explosive expiration which helps in clearing the tracheobronchial system from secretions and foreign bodies. It is caused by a variety of cardiac and non-cardiac disorders. Although cough is generally accepted as an ominous symptom which indicates progressing or worsening disease state or drug side effect, it might sometimes be a life saving manoeuvre in the catheterization labs. The possible mechanisms by which cough helps us in the catheterization lab are discussed in this letter.