Can a simple breathing test unlock the secrets of chronic cough?

This study investigates how the airways respond to two different challenge tests—mannitol inhalation and a controlled hyperventilation exercise—in people with cough variant asthma, those with chronic cough but normal airway sensitivity, and healthy controls. The goal is to see if these tests trigger similar sensations of breathlessness and airway narrowing in the asthma and cough groups but not in healthy individuals. By comparing these responses, researchers hope to better understand the underlying mechanisms of chronic cough and cough variant asthma.