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What It Means

What a Cough Means

A cough is a forceful reflex that helps clear your throat and airways of mucus, irritants, or foreign material. It may be temporary, such as during a cold, or persistent when an ongoing problem continues to irritate the airways.

DRY COUGH

A dry cough feels tickly or irritating and does not produce mucus.

WET COUGH

A wet, or productive, cough brings mucus or phlegm up from the airways.

Possible Causes

Possible Causes of a Cough

  • Viral respiratory infections such as a cold, influenza, or COVID-19 can irritate the airways.
  • Allergies and postnasal drip can trigger throat irritation and a dry cough.
  • Asthma can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath.
  • Smoking, vaping, dust, smoke, and air pollution can irritate the airways.
  • Acid reflux can cause a recurring cough, especially after meals or when lying down.
  • Some medicines, including certain blood pressure medicines, can cause a persistent dry cough.
  • Chronic lung conditions can cause an ongoing cough with or without mucus.

Important

Know when to get assessed

Coughing up blood, significant breathing difficulty, chest pain, or a rapidly worsening cough requires prompt medical assessment. Do not rely on the cough pattern alone to diagnose its cause.

Duration Triage Table

What Cough Duration May Mean

DurationWhat it may indicateWhen to seek care
Acute: less than 3 weeksOften follows a cold or other short-term irritation.Seek care sooner if severe, worsening, or accompanied by breathing difficulty or chest pain.
Subacute: 3 to 8 weeksMay persist after an infection or reflect allergies, asthma, reflux, or another trigger.Arrange an evaluation if it is not steadily improving or interferes with daily activities.
Chronic: more than 8 weeksCan be linked to asthma, reflux, postnasal drip, medicines, smoking, or chronic lung disease.Schedule a medical assessment to identify the cause.

Relief Tips

Cough Relief Tips

  • Drink fluids regularly to help soothe an irritated throat and loosen mucus.
  • Use a clean cool-mist humidifier if dry air worsens the cough.
  • Avoid smoking, vaping, secondhand smoke, and known airborne irritants.
  • Try warm liquids to soothe throat irritation.
  • Honey may soothe a cough in adults and children older than 1 year, but never give honey to an infant under 1 year.
  • Throat lozenges may help older children and adults, following the product safety instructions.

When to See a Doctor

When to See a Doctor for a Cough

Get urgent help

Do not wait for routine care

Seek emergency care for trouble breathing, blue or gray lips, severe chest pain, confusion, fainting, coughing up blood, or a rapidly worsening cough.

  • Contact a clinician if the cough lasts more than 3 weeks or is not steadily improving.
  • Arrange care for a recurrent cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath.
  • Seek advice for a fever that persists, returns, or occurs with worsening symptoms.
  • Ask for evaluation if coughing causes repeated vomiting or major sleep disruption.
  • Discuss unexplained weight loss, night sweats, or a cough that repeatedly produces blood with a clinician.

Complications

Possible Complications of a Cough

  • Frequent coughing can interrupt sleep and cause daytime exhaustion.
  • Repeated coughing can irritate the throat and cause headaches or chest and abdominal muscle pain.
  • Forceful coughing can sometimes cause urinary leakage or vomiting.
  • Very forceful or prolonged coughing can rarely contribute to a rib injury.

Diseases & Conditions

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