‘Persistent cough could be undiagnosed Asthma’

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

A cough lasting more than two to three weeks, especially if it worsens at night or early morning, along with intermittent breathlessness or chest tightness, is often dismissed as a routine cold, allergy, or seasonal infection. However, doctors at CARE Hospitals warn that these symptoms may actually indicate undiagnosed asthma.

Speaking on the occasion of World Asthma Day 2026, doctors noted a steady rise in asthma and other respiratory illnesses, driven by worsening air pollution, construction dust, vehicular emissions, weather fluctuations and growing indoor air pollution exposure.

Dr. Sudhir Prasad, Senior Pulmonologist, CARE Hospitals, Malakpet, cautioned that Asthma attacks could  disrupt schooling, careers, sleep, and daily functioning, and in severe cases, can lead to emergency hospitalization or even death. Dr. Syed Abdul Aleem, Senior Pulmonologist, CARE Hospitals, Musheerabad said that one of the biggest reasons for preventable asthma emergencies is poor adherence to inhaler therapy. He also warned that discontinuing inhalers midway significantly increases the risk of severe asthma attacks.

Dr Syed Abdul Aleem, 

Senior Consultatnt - 

Pulmonary Medicine