We started The Cough Center at Asthma & Allergy Physicians of Rhode Island because many of our patients were presenting with the chief complaint of chronic cough. These patients are bothered by a constant, non-productive cough and a sensation of a “tickle” in the back of their throats for months, and in some cases years. The cough can be disabling, sometimes preventing people from socializing and doing normal everyday activities like going to a restaurant, religious services or social gatherings. These coughs are even known to affect a person's ability to work. It disrupts sleep and can be associated with embarrassing urinary incontinence.

Recent studies have shown that chronic cough is the single most common symptom prompting outpatient medical visits in the United States . In light of this trend, the Cough Center was established to provide an outlet for relief and treatment of chronic cough conditions for our patients. Our team of doctors and physician assistants enjoy highly specialized training in asthma, allergy, immunology, and internal medicine.

If you suffer from chronic cough, we invite you to experience our unique approach to treating this frustrating condition.

.Why am I coughing?

Chronic or constant cough can be due to a number of causes, including:

• Postnasal Drip from
• Allergies or Sinusitis
• Asthma
• Silent Acid Reflux Disease
• Inflamed Vocal Cords
• A combination of all the above

In most cases evaluation and management of a patient's chronic cough has already been conducted by a primary care physician or urgent care center. In some additional cases patients seek treatment for the above causes through various specialists, but the acute cough symptoms remain.

It is important to note that although cough is a common medical problem, it is a symptom of a whole host of diverse medical conditions. Each of these conditions requires proper diagnosis and treatment in order to be effective.

Studies have shown that the majority of patients with chronic cough have multiple causes for their condition. Unfortunately, many patients have only one cause identified, leading to insufficient treatment and ongoing frustration.

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.What's Our Approach?

The Cough Center at Asthma & Allergy Physicians of RI recognizes that patients are frustrated by ongoing, persistent cough. We also respect that fact that while some may deem cough to be a relatively minor medical condition, it is actually a condition that can significantly alter the quality of one's life. In light of this deep understanding of cough, we've developed a unique approach to care for this condition.

We pride ourselves in approaching our cough patients in an empathetic fashion , allowing us to truly focus on the most likely cause of the condition. We have the ability of performing imaging studies, methacholine challenges (extensive pulmonary function tests to assess asthma), and direct visualization of the vocal cords through rhinolaryngoscopy - all in the office setting.

Unlike the more traditional “trial and error” treatments for chronic cough, we employ a systematic, multi-disciplined, and integrated approach that keeps the patient's needs at the center of what we do. We believe our approach is the best way to accurately diagnose and treat chronic cough, and we welcome you to experience the difference offered by The Cough Center.

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.Who will provide my care?

The founder of the Cough Center is Dr. John F. Zwetchkenbaum. Affectionately referred to as “Dr. Z” by his patients, he is an Asthma and Allergy specialist, board certified in both Internal Medicine and Asthma & Immunology. He has offices in Providence, Lincoln, and Warren, RI.

A Brown University graduate, Dr. Z completed his asthma and allergy training at the world renowned National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver . He is a clinical instructor at Brown University School of Medicine, and has been recognized on multiple occasions as a “Top Doc” by Rhode Island Monthly Magazine. Dr. Z has also appeared in numerous newspaper, television, and radio news segments, offering expert commentary on chronic cough, asthma and allergy as well as his clinical research activities.

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