What Is a Cough?

A cough can be voluntary or involuntary, and it is the body’s way to help clear the airways of irritants and to prevent infection. Cough is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of an underlying medical condition.
A cough is categorized as acute, subacute, or chronic depending on how long it lasts.
What Are Other Symptoms Seen With Cough?
A cough may be accompanied by other cold symptoms, including:
- Postnasal drip
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sore throat
- Hoarseness
- Heartburn
- Unpleasant taste in the mouth
See a doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms accompanying a cough because it may be serious:
- Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
- Shallow, rapid breathing
- Wheezing
- Chest pain
- Fever
- Coughing up blood or yellow or green phlegm
- Coughing so hard you vomit
- Unexplained weight loss
- Cough lasts more than 8 weeks
- Fainting
- Swelling of feet or ankles
What Causes Cough?
Causes of cough include:
- Infections
- Common cold (viral infection)
- Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
- Bacterial or fungal infections
- Pneumonia
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
- Smoking
- Most common cause of chronic cough
- Postnasal drip
- Allergies (allergic rhinitis)
- Sinus infection
- Lung conditions
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Certain medications such as ACE inhibitors
- Inhalation of foreign objects into the lungs (usually in children)
- Sarcoidosis
- Congestive heart failure
How Is Cough Diagnosed?
Cough is diagnosed with a history and physical exam. Tests may be used to help diagnose the cause of the cough.
- Lung imaging
- Chest X-ray
- Chest computerized tomography (CT) scan
- Lung function tests
- Acid reflux testing
- pH probe
- Upper endoscopy
- Swab of inside the nose to test for COVID-19
- Allergy skin tests
- Lab tests of phlegm that is coughed up

SLIDESHOW
Cold and Flu: Finding Relief for Your Cough See SlideshowWhat Is the Treatment for Cough?
Treatment of cough depends on the cause and whether the cough is acute or chronic. Treatment may include:
- Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines containing guaifenesin and/or dextromethorphan (these can be found as cough syrups and in tablet form)
- Antibiotics for infection caused by bacteria such as bacterial pneumonia and bronchitis
- Antibiotics will not treat cough caused by viruses such as the common cold, flu, or COVID-19
- Inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled steroids to treat asthma and COPD
- Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or nasal inhalers like ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) for postnasal drip
- Famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac) omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC), lansoprazole (Prevacid, Prevacid 24-Hour), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), esomeprazole (Nexium) to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- If cough is caused by an ACE inhibitor, your doctor may switch your medicine
- Never stop taking a prescribed medication without first talking to your doctor
- Pain relievers (analgesics) to treat the pain caused by coughing
If the cough is not serious, home remedies may help relieve symptoms, such as:
- Staying hydrated
- Inhaling steam in a shower or using a humidifier
- Gargling with warm saltwater
- Cough lozenges (lozenges are not recommended for young children; they can be a choking hazard)
- Don’t smoke
- Avoiding allergens such as pollen, dust, animals, or mold
- Avoiding inhaled irritants such as smoke, dust, and other pollutants
- For GERD: Avoiding foods that increase reflux, avoiding meals before lying down, elevating the head while sleeping
How Do You Prevent Cough?
To prevent cough:
- Don't smoke
- Manage chronic conditions that may cause cough such as asthma, postnasal drip, or GERD
- Avoid people who are sick with the cold, flu, COVID, bronchitis, or pneumonia
- Get the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
- Eat fruit
- Research suggests diets high in fruit fiber and flavonoids may prevent chronic productive cough
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