The Wide-Ranging Spectrum of Cough-Induced Complications and Patient Harm

Cough is one of the most common complaints encountered in every setting, however, complications associated with coughing have received relatively little attention. An exhaustive systematic review of the English literature revealed an exceedingly large and varied spectrum of cough-induced complications affecting many systems including upper airways, chest wall and thorax, abdominal wall, heart and aorta, central nervous system, eye, gastrointestinal tract, urogenital system, and emotional and psychological harm.