What should you know about bradykinin cough?

Bradykinin is a natural chemical messenger that can build up when an ACE inhibitor slows its breakdown. This may stimulate sensitive nerves in the throat and airways, creating a tickling urge to cough without mucus. Other causes remain possible, including acid reflux, allergic rhinitis, asthma, a common cold or acute bronchitis. A cough lasting for weeks may be described as chronic cough and deserves assessment rather than repeated self-treatment.

Make a medication list and note when the cough started, whether it is worse at night, and whether you have wheezing, breathlessness or fever. Contact the prescriber before stopping or changing blood-pressure treatment; they can review the medicine and choose a suitable alternative if appropriate. Drink fluids, avoid smoke and strong fragrances, and use soothing measures that are safe for you. A pharmacist or clinician can check other medicines and examine your chest.

Seek urgent medical help for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, chest pain, coughing blood, fainting, or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat. Arrange prompt clinical review if the cough is worsening, affects sleep or daily activity, comes with fever or breathlessness, or persists after a medicine review. These warning signs need assessment because they can point to problems other than bradykinin cough.

Could one of my medicines be causing this cough? What alternatives might control my blood pressure? How long might symptoms take to settle after a change? Do my examination findings suggest reflux, asthma or another airway condition?