<p> <br />Coughing has largely remained a mystery to science. Now, a team in Britain has found that the problem actually lies with receptors on nerve endings in the lungs which react to irritants.<br /><br />In fact, in their research, involving guinea pigs and human volunteers, the scientists showed that irritants in the air — including cigarette smoke and air pollution — switch on receptor proteins in lung nerve endings called TRPA1. This in turn causes the cough reflex, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported.<br /><br />When the receptors were blocked in guinea pigs, using drugs, their coughing response to stimulants including a key compound in cigarette smoke was reduced. Nerves taken from mice and humans were also used to back up the research.</p>
<p> <br />Coughing has largely remained a mystery to science. Now, a team in Britain has found that the problem actually lies with receptors on nerve endings in the lungs which react to irritants.<br /><br />In fact, in their research, involving guinea pigs and human volunteers, the scientists showed that irritants in the air — including cigarette smoke and air pollution — switch on receptor proteins in lung nerve endings called TRPA1. This in turn causes the cough reflex, the ‘Daily Mail’ reported.<br /><br />When the receptors were blocked in guinea pigs, using drugs, their coughing response to stimulants including a key compound in cigarette smoke was reduced. Nerves taken from mice and humans were also used to back up the research.</p>