Medically reviewed by Benjamin Chang, MD
Your cold cleared up weeks ago. The stuffy nose is gone and your energy is back. But your cough is still hanging on.
Coughing helps clear mucus, germs and irritants from your airways. Most coughs from a cold or the flu fade within three weeks. If yours sticks around longer, it’s worth paying attention.
What counts as a chronic cough?
Doctors sort coughs by how long they last:
- Acute: Less than three weeks, usually from a cold, the flu or another infection
- Subacute: Three to eight weeks, often lingering after an infection
- Chronic: Eight weeks or longer in adults, or four weeks or longer in children
A chronic cough isn’t a disease on its own. It’s a sign that something else is going on.
Common causes of chronic cough
Most chronic coughs have a cause that can be found and treated. Common causes include:
- Postnasal drip: Mucus from your nose or sinuses drips down your throat and triggers coughing. Allergies and sinus problems are frequent culprits
- Asthma: For some people, a cough is the main sign of asthma, often triggered by cold air, pollen, strong scents or exercise
- Acid reflux: Stomach acid that backs up into your esophagus can irritate your throat, even if you don’t have heartburn
- Tobacco use: Smoking and secondhand smoke irritate the airways. Over time, smoking can lead to chronic bronchitis, a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Certain blood pressure medicines: Some people who take ACE inhibitors develop a dry cough
Less often, a lasting cough may point to an ongoing bacterial infection, worsening lung disease, heart failure or lung cancer. That’s why a cough that won’t quit deserves a closer look.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your primary care provider if:
- Your cough hasn’t improved after 10 to 14 days, or it has lasted eight weeks or longer
- Your cough keeps you up at night or gets in the way of work, school or daily life
- Your cough comes with fever, wheezing or shortness of breath
- You have unexplained weight loss or night sweats
- You have heart disease or swelling in your legs, or your cough gets worse when you lie down
- You’ve been around someone who has tuberculosis
Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department if you start coughing up blood, have severe trouble breathing or have chest pain.
What to expect at your visit
Before you visit your doctor, write down when your cough started, when it’s worst and what seems to trigger it. Your doctor will likely ask these questions and also listen to your lungs.
You may need a chest X-ray or a breathing test that measures how well your lungs work. Treatment depends on the cause, and your doctor may start by treating the most likely one.
You don’t have to accept a lingering cough as your new normal. At WMCHealth, our primary care providers take the time to listen, identify what’s behind your symptoms and connect you with specialists across our network when you need them.