POST-COVID CHRONIC COUGH MAY SIGNAL HEART AILMENT

Study says, people suffering from common laryngopharyngeal dysfunction may be at significant risk of developing a heart attack or stroke

People suffering from common laryngopharyngeal dysfunction like chronic cough, hoarseness, recurrent throat clearing, especially after Covid, may be at significant risk of developing a heart attack or stroke, warns a study.

Researchers from the University of Southampton observed a reduction in baroreflex sensitivity - a measure of how much a person's heart rate changes in response to changes in blood pressure - in patients with throat symptoms.

The team noted that the findings could be explained by the Vagus nerve - which controls the autonomic nervous system - prioritising protection of the airways over less urgent functions, such as blood pressure regulation.