Coughing is a common ailment that sends plenty of people running to the doctor’s office. Occasional coughing can be good for you — it can clear out particles in the lungs that can lead to infection. Persistent coughing isn’t quite so helpful.
Most of the time, a cough is a symptom of something else. Maybe you’ve got allergies or post-nasal drip. Maybe a medication (like a nasal spray) is making your throat irritated. Maybe something more serious — like a heart condition, serious sinus infection, the flu, or gastro-esophageal reflux (GERD) — is hiding behind that cough.
Your doc will probably ask you if your cough has just developed (known as an acute cough) or if it’s been going on for a while. Eight weeks of coughing adds up to a chronic cough in the medical world. You’ll also be asked if your cough produces mucus. If your cough produces phlegm, chances are you have a virus or a bacterial infection. A dry cough may be caused by asthma, emphysema, a virus, or even congestive heart failure or lung cancer.
In the long run, persistent coughing can have some serious side effects like:
- Painful muscle spasms
- Fatigue
- Vocal hoarseness
- Bladder control issues — yes, coughing can cause urine leakage!
Asthma is often to blame for a cough that just won’t quit. Many people have asthma and just don’t know it! Post nasal drip is another cough culprit — the mucus dripping down from the sinuses can irritate your throat and lungs. GERD is the third major cause of chronic cough. Stomach acid that refluxes up into the esophagus can trigger a cough. Many times, a cough is the only symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
In general, talk to a health care professional if you have a cough and:
- You are coughing up blood.
- Your cough doesn’t improve even when other symptoms do.
- You also have a fever.
- You are short of breath or have chest pain.
- The cough lasts for more than three weeks.
- The cough interferes with your normal activities, including sleep.
- Coughing causes you to lose consciousness.