Richard Irwin and John Mark Madison Share Insights on Challenges and Pitfalls of Chronic Cough in Adults 

Almost everyone experiences problems with an unexplained cough at some point in their life.  For about 10% of the population, a persistent cough becomes a significant medical issue. Richard Irwin, MD, professor of medicine, and John Mark Madison, MD, clinical chief and professor of medicine, both in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, have made a lifetime of work investigating why people experience lingering coughs. Their research has identified root causes in both psychological and psychiatric conditions or aberrant vagal signaling. 

In a recent review article published in The New England Journal of Medicine, Drs. Irwin and Madison share their understanding of the pathogenesis of unexplained cough and offer guidance on its management, including both non-pharmacologic and potential future pharmacologic approaches.  

Read their review.