The heart isn’t notably affected during coughing; however, a persistent cough that produces pink or white mucus could be a warning of heart failure, reports WebMD. When the heart is unable to meet the body’s load, blood leaks back into the lungs.
Coughing is a normal reflex that helps defend the lungs, states the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. It helps clear the airways of irritants, such as mucus and smoke. This process prevents infections. Side effects of a constant cough include exhaustion, chest pain, loss of bladder control and light-headedness. Coughing interrupts daily actions, such as sleeping, social activities and work.
An acute cough lasts for less than three weeks and is caused by the common cold and other upper respiratory infections. A subacute cough lasts from three to eight weeks and usually remains after the respiratory infection has cleared. A chronic cough lasts for more than eight weeks and is caused by upper airway cough syndrome, asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Coughing is normal; however, a long-lasting cough may be a symptom of an underlying cause. The best recommendation is for a doctor to evaluate the cause and treat it, says the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.
