Research Shows How Colds Lead to Coughing, Wheezing, Queen’s University Study

The common cold appears to increase the number of “cough receptors” in the airways and makes them more sensitive, which triggers coughing, wheezing and breathlessness, a new study reports. People with asthma are especially vulnerable to this virus-induced coughing, said the researchers from Queen’s University Belfast. The cough receptors also are known as transient receptor potential (TRP) receptors.