Chronic Cough
Chronic Cough
A cough that lasts more than eight weeks in an adult is considered chronic. It can disrupt sleep, cause chest pain, hoarseness or loss of bladder control, and affect work and social life. Most chronic coughs have a treatable cause.
Common causes include:
- Postnasal drip from allergies or sinus problems
- Asthma, including cough-variant asthma
- Acid reflux
- Blood pressure medications called ACE inhibitors
- Smoking or vaping and COPD
- Less common causes such as bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, infections or lung tumors
If you have sudden shortness of breath, chest pain or cough up blood, call 911.
Diagnosis & Treatment
How we evaluate chronic cough
- A detailed history, medication review and exam
- Chest X-ray or CT scan
- Breathing tests to look for asthma or COPD
- Bronchoscopy in selected cases
Treatment options
- Targeted treatment of the cause, such as asthma, reflux or postnasal drip
- Changing medications that can cause cough
- Help quitting smoking or vaping
- For cough that persists despite treatment, medications that calm an oversensitive cough reflex and referral for cough-suppression therapy
See also: Asthma · Bronchiectasis & NTM