- Any cough that lasts more than two months is defined as chronic and requires medical attention.
Coughing is a reflex that keeps the lungs and airways free from phlegm (excess mucus) and foreign objects (such as food) that might interfere with breathing. Occasional coughing is normal, as is the coughing associated with a cold (the most common acute medical problem that triggers a cough). Any cough that lasts more than 2 months, however, is defined as chronic and requires medical attention—even if the cough occurs only in the morning, at night, or at certain times of the year.
Chronic cough is not a disease; rather, it is considered a symptom of another condition. A cough attributable to a cold, flu, or some other known cause that fails to get better within 3 weeks, or a persistent cough of unknown origin, is reason to see your doctor. Your cough may have qualities that, together with other symptoms, point towards an underlying cause that requires proper diagnosis and treatment.
A chronic cough associated with a normal chest x-ray most often results from one or more conditions that include postnasal drip, asthma, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and chronic bronchitis. Blood pressure medications can also cause a dry, hacking cough in some people.
More serious (but less common) causes of chronic cough include interstitial lung disease, bronchiectasis (persistent dilatation of the bronchi or bronchioles), and pneumonia—all of which produce inflammation or scarring of the lungs. Lung cancer is usually suspected only when someone with a history of smoking has an abnormal chest x-ray.
Self-care measures may help relieve a chronic cough but are not a substitute for medical evaluation. Try to increase the humidity in your home and drink plenty of fluids to thin phlegm and other secretions. However, do not treat a chronic cough with over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicine for more than 2 weeks unless directed by your doctor. These medications can suppress your cough but may not cure it. If your cough never entirely clears up or returns after you stop taking OTC medications, see your doctor.
