Question

What purpose does smokers cough serve?

Why are non smokers less likely to develop chronic cough?

Answer 1

Smokers cough due to the presence of tobacco chemical in it. These chemiclas interfere with the function of the cilia, the tiny hair-like structures that help filter toxins from the airways. This leads to inflammation and as a result, the body attempts to remove the substances through coughing. Smoker's cough may be worse upon waking because the cilia were unaffected by tobacco smoke during sleep and so were more able to catch and expel the chemicals.

Non-smokers are less likely to develop chronic cought as their lungs arenot exposed to any toxic chemicals. The main three causes for such coughs in non-smokers are postnasal drip, asthma and GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease.