Chronic cough is one of the most common reasons for family doctor visits. Fortunately, the cause of chronic cough can usually be identified and treated. To figure out why you are coughing, and to get relief, visit your doctor.

When a Cough is Chronic

If you’ve had a cough for more than three weeks, it is considered a chronic cough. “Chronic” describes something that lasts for a long time. Although it is a common health problem, chronic cough is not something to ignore. Untreated, chronic cough can interfere with daily activities and make sleeping and eating difficult.

Some of the most common causes of chronic cough include:

• Postnasal drip syndrome (mucus that drips down the throat from the back of the nose- it’s usually triggered by allergies)
• Asthma
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (sometimes called GERD or acid reflux- a condition in which acid from the stomach backs up into your throat)
• Side effects of ACE inhibitors (medicines used to treat high blood pressure)
• Viral infections
• Smoking
• ... or a combination of these causes

In rare cases chronic cough can be caused by diseases such as tuberculosis or cancer of the oesophagus or lungs.

What About Short-term Coughs?

Just about everybody coughs from time to time. The common cold, for instance, is often followed by a cough that can last as long as two or three weeks. But if your cough following a cold hangs on longer than usual, it may be developing into a chronic cough. If there is shortness of breath with a cough, or any pain, or blood in the mucus you cough up, you should see your doctor immediately.

What About Smoking?

Smoking can cause chronic cough. If you are a smoker, seek help in quitting. Your doctor can review different methods that can help you to quit the habit (nicotine patches, gums, support groups, etc.)

You may be so used to your “cigarette cough” that you can’t tell when something new has been added. Are you coughing more than you used to? For longer at a time? Or has your cough changed? Maybe you’re coughing up streaks of blood or more phlegm (mucus). Any of these may be a sign that something is wrong. A nagging “smokers’ cough” should not be ignored. A chronic cough in a smoker or former smoker may be a sign of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, including emphysema and bronchitis). Discuss your cough with your doctor.

Chronic Cough is a Symptom of Something Else

A chronic cough is not a disease in itself. It is typically a sign of something wrong with the breathing system. That’s why it isn’t a good idea to take cough medicine for more than a week or two unless your doctor tells you to. Instead, get to the root of your chronic cough by visiting the doctor.

Treating a Chronic Cough

The first step in treating a chronic cough is to identify its cause. Your doctor may do several tests to determine the cause of your cough. First your doctor will take a history. He or she might ask you about allergies, the medications you are currently taking, whether you smoke or smoked in the past, your exposure to chemicals at home or work, recent illnesses, etc.

Your doctor may also order a chest x-ray. Depending on the X-ray results, the doctor may order lung function tests or refer you to a specialist. Once the doctor knows the cause(s) of your cough, he or she will be able to recommend a treatment.

Remember, in the vast majority of cases chronic cough can be successfully treated. The earlier your doctor can identify the cause, the better.