Eli5: What is the purpose of a dry cough?

229 views

Specifically when you’re sick, not lung cancer or anything like that.

A wet cough is called “productive” because it clears fluid/mucus from your lungs.

So what does a dry cough actually “do” for the body? Is it just a reaction to something with no specific purpose?

In: 28

2 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

It’s just a reaction to an irritant.

Not everything our body does has a “good” reason. Some things are just reactions to stimuli real (like a “dry” spot in your throat, or maybe a bit of dust) or imagined (for lack of a better term). Kind of like those random itches that just happen. Nothing’s touching you there, and you haven’t been bitten or whatever. Just a weird nerve impulse your brain interprets as “it itches there”

You are viewing 1 out of 2 answers, click here to view all answers.