Cough
A cough is a spontaneous reflex that helps clear dust, germs, and mucus out of the throat and airways. Coughing keeps the body safe from invaders, and most coughs are not serious.
Colds, sinus congestion or infection, and allergies can cause a cough, as can the flu. In some cases, a cough can be a symptom of a more serious condition like pneumonia or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Some medicines—including those that treat kidney or heart disease or high blood pressure—lung disease, smoking, and allergies can also cause a cough.
This article covers the symptoms, types, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of a cough, and when to get help for a cough.
Crispin la valiente / Getty Images
Symptoms of a Cough
Coughing is frequently associated with various types of respiratory infections or conditions. Some common symptoms that may accompany cough include:
Congestion: You may have mucus clogging your nasal passages and sinuses or in your lung airways.
Fever: Coughing due to an infection may be accompanied by a fever.
Wheezing: A whistling sound when breathing may be noted with asthma, respiratory infections, or allergic reactions.
Headache
Fatigue
The two main types of cough are:
Acute (short-term) cough: An acute cough lasts up to three weeks and does not require medical attention unless there are other symptoms, like chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, drowsiness, or headache.
Chronic (persistent or long-term) cough: These coughs last longer than three weeks and can be a sign of a chronic condition, including asthma and allergy, or more serious conditions like lung disease.
There are different kinds of acute and chronic coughs, including:
Productive cough: A cough with phlegm or mucus
Dry (unproductive) cough: A cough without mucus
Causes of a Cough
A cough can be categorized as acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
The most common causes of acute cough are:
Upper respiratory infection (URI) such as a cold or the flu, or acute bronchitis (also known as a chest cold)
Allergy or hay fever
A flareup of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a lung disease that makes breathing difficult
Dust or smoke
Some causes of chronic cough include:
Smoking
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Postnasal drip (when mucus from the nose reaches the back of the throat)
Medications, including some that treat heart disease and high blood pressure
What Medications Can Cause a Cough?
Medications known for causing a cough include:
ACE inhibitors: ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors are medicines that lower blood pressure. They are also prescribed for heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes. People on ACE inhibitors could experience dry cough as a side effect.
Opioids: Opioids are pain relievers prescribed for surgery, major injury, or chronic pain. About 30% to 66% of people who take prescription opioids could experience chronic cough.
Statins: Statins lower cholesterol, and coughing is a well-known side effect.
There are rare reports of coughing as a side effect of:
Omeprazole, a medication for acid reflux disease
Arava (leflunomide), an arthritis treatment
Interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (under brand names Rebetol and Virazole), which are medications for Hepatitis C
Januvia (sitagliptin), a type 2 diabetes treatment
How to Treat a Cough
Short-term coughs usually go away on their own, but there are ways to manage them. To treat a cough, it might help to do the following:
Drink plenty of fluids
Rest
Add lemon and honey to a warm beverage
Avoid carbonated drinks
Ingest a mixture of lemon and honey
Sit in a steamy bathroom or run a humidifier (for dry cough)
Take over-the-counter painkillers like Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen)
Take over-the-counter cough medicines or cough drops
Avoid allergens and smoke
Stop smoking
Chronic, long-term coughs require medical attention, and treatments might include:
A bronchodilator or steroid inhaler for asthma
Antihistamines for allergies
Antibiotics if the cough is a result of a bacterial infection like pneumonia
Antacids or proton pump inhibitors (PPI) for GERD
Bronchodilators for COPD
Complications and Risk Factors Associated With a Cough
In some cases, a cough could mean a life-threatening condition, such as:
Pulmonary embolism: When a blood clot travels to the lungs. Symptoms include a dry cough with shortness of breath.
Collapsed lung: When the lung is deflated. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, and dry cough.
Heart failure: Symptoms of heart failure can include swelling in the legs (edema), shortness of breath, and cough.
Are There Tests to Diagnose the Cause of a Cough?
To determine the cause of a cough, a healthcare provider might ask about other symptoms like:
Fever
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Coughing up blood
Headaches
Drowsiness
Confusion
A medical professional might also ask questions about the cough's history and the patient's medical history. This might include inquiring about:
Mucus color
Allergies
Medical conditions
Medications
Smoking
One or more of the following medical tests could pinpoint the reason behind a cough:
Blood tests to diagnose infections like pneumonia
Mucus (sputum) tests for a bacterial infection or lung cancer
Chest X-ray
CT scan, which can capture images of the heart, lungs, and other organs
Spirometry, which measures lung function
Methacholine challenge tests, which measure lung reactions and help with diagnosing asthma
When to See a Healthcare Provider
When a cough lasts longer than three weeks or is accompanied by the following symptoms, it is advised to see a healthcare provider as soon as possible:
Shortness of breath
Coughing up blood
Spasms
Turning blue
For children, a fever for longer than two days
Lumps in the throat
Summary
A cough is a spontaneous reflex that keeps the body safe from dust, bacteria, and other pathogens. The most common reasons behind an acute cough include the common cold, flu, allergies, dust or smoke, or a flare-up of a chronic condition like asthma. Medications that can cause a cough include ACE inhibitors, which reduce blood pressure and are prescribed for heart and kidney disease.
See a healthcare provider immediately if you're experiencing shortness of breath, a bloody cough, spasms, lumps in the throat, or turning blue with a cough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do people cough?
A cough is an involuntary reaction meant to protect the throat and airways from dust, bacteria, allergens, mucus, and other invaders. When conditions like cold and flu affect airways, a short-term (acute) cough is the body's way of healing itself.
How can I get rid of a cough?
Getting rest, drinking fluids, taking steam showers or baths if the cough is dry, drinking honey and lemon, and taking painkillers if needed might be the most effective way to manage a cough. If you have a long-term cough, you might need medication to clear an underlying condition.
Can a cough be dangerous?
A cough could be dangerous if it lasts longer than three weeks or includes symptoms like coughing up blood, shortness of breath, wheezing, spasms, turning blue, a fever for longer than a couple of days for children, dizziness, or chest pain.
