Asthma afflicts millions of Americans. It is a serious and occasionally fatal disease but sometimes the sole manifestation of asthma is chronic cough.   A cough aggravated by colds is often due to asthma.   Other asthma triggers include allergies, viral and sinus infections, humidity and temperature variations, smoking, exercise, pollutants, hormonal (menstrual period or pregnancy), and rarely, medications or diet. Theperennial allergen dust mite is linked to the development of asthma but generally does not play a major role in established asthma.  Evaluating and treating sinusitis and acid reflux are critical since sinus infections worsen asthma severity  (some to most severe asthmatics have chronic sinusitis). Acid reflux, however, may mimic asthma and contribute to vocal cord dysfunction which, if not diagnosed, can lead to overtreatment including excessive oral steroid use.  Read more about asthma on my main website, CityAllergy.