An occasional cough is normal — it helps clear irritants and secretions from your lungs and prevents infection. However, a cough that persists for weeks is usually the result of a medical problem. In many cases, more than one cause is involved.
Common causes for chronic cough include asthma, postnasal drip and acid reflux. Treatment depends on the underlying cause. If you're an adult with a cough that's lasted more than two months or if your child's cough lasts more than four weeks, you should contact a healthcare provider to find out why.
The most common causes of chronic cough are postnasal drip, asthma, and acid reflux from the stomach. These three causes are responsible for up to 90 percent of all cases of chronic cough. Less common causes include infections, medications, and lung diseases.
Dozens of conditions can cause a recurrent, lingering cough, but the lion's share are caused by just five: postnasal drip, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic bronchitis, and treatment with ACE inhibitors, used for high blood pressure and heart failure.
Coughs that persist after a common cold or other upper respiratory infection are called post-infectious or post-viral coughs. They can linger for three to eight weeks after a viral infection. There are two common causes of a post-viral cough in adults: Postnasal drip, when mucus drains into your throat.
It is best to see a doctor for coughs that persist for longer than 3 weeks, as a cough that won't go away may indicate something more serious. A cough occurs when the lungs or airways become irritated. The most common cause of a cough is the common cold, which does not usually require medical attention.
A cough is often the last symptom to disappear after respiratory illnesses, says family medicine doctor, Emmet Fenichel, M.D. However, if it doesn't fade after a few weeks, you should see a doctor. Adults should seek medical care if a cough persists for eight weeks or longer.
A chronic cough is when a cough lasts longer than 8 weeks in adults or 4 weeks in children. Common causes include asthma, allergies, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or bronchitis. Less commonly, it can be a sign of a more severe condition, such as heart or lung disease.
What is a heart cough? In heart failure, your heart muscle has dysfunction that might be due to weak contraction or stiffness. This can allow fluid to back up in yout lungs, creating a condition called pulmonary edema. Your body coughs persistently in an effort to eliminate the excess fluid.
But how long would a cough have to last before I should see a doctor? A. Medically speaking, a persistent (or chronic) cough is one that lasts more than three to four weeks. The most common reason for a new cough is an upper respiratory infection from the common cold, which is usually caused by a virus.
The four main types of coughs are: wet, dry, paroxysmal and croup. Most coughs do go away on their own.
Most people with asthma have a dry cough, one that does not produce mucous. This happens when the airways constrict in response to an irritant and is a feature of asthma. As well as the cough there is often a high-pitched wheeze sound that is also caused by the constricted airway.
The GERD cough is a dry cough that worsens at night and lasts longer than 8 weeks. GERD occurs when part of the stomach's acidic content move up through the throat. Often times people experience heartburn which does not resolve with antacids.
Even a cough by itself with no other symptoms should be checked out by a physician if it lasts longer than a week. It could still be nothing serious, but this is a good point at which it makes sense to see a physician for peace of mind.
A persistent cough may be caused by: a long-term respiratory tract infection, such as chronic bronchitis. asthma – this also usually causes other symptoms, such as wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. an allergy.
While most people associate coughing as a common symptom that accompanies lung or respiratory issues, its connection to heart failure often goes unnoticed. This is called a cardiac cough, and it often happens to those with congestive heart failure (CHF).
If it has been more than three to four weeks and your cough does not seem to be going away, it is time to visit urgent care. Consulting a doctor is the right thing to do when cough persists for more than three weeks.
Your doctor will listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. If you have pneumonia, your lungs may make crackling, bubbling, and rumbling sounds when you inhale.
Asthma inhalers soothe the airways and suppress the need to cough. They can allow you the peace to recover. If an inhaler such as Ventolin doesn't help, and the cough worsens, it's important to see a doctor again in case there's an underlying infection or other problem.
Ventolin is the brand name for the drug salbutamol (also known as albuterol) and is a bronchodilator that treats breathing problems like wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath are associated with both of these conditions.
Postnasal drip refers to excess mucus that someone may feel in the back of the nose and throat, causing a constant need to clear the throat. It may lead to symptoms, such as a sore throat and trouble swallowing. Environmental triggers, such as allergies, cold weather, or dry air, may cause postnasal drip.
Catarrh is a build-up of mucus in an airway or cavity of the body. It usually affects the back of the nose, the throat or the sinuses (air-filled cavities in the bones of the face). It's often temporary, but some people experience it for months or years. This is known as chronic catarrh.