Normally, a cough is a symptom of allergies or illness. You cough from time to time, or for a few days, and then it clears up. But if you’re coughing all day, every day, something isn’t right.
But coughing can sometimes linger on. You aren’t feeling sick but your cough is sticking around stubbornly. You cough at the movies (making some people pretty irritated), at the supermarket, everywhere you go. And you’re really wondering: when will this cough subside?
Is a persistent cough something to worry about? Well, there are times when a persistent cough can be little more than aggravating; in other circumstances, it might be a sign of a more severe illness. It’s a good idea to try and ascertain what’s happening in either case.
When you can’t stop coughing it’s pretty annoying
Persistent coughs can be quite obnoxious. Coughing is a very jarring experience. Even a low-key persistent cough can dramatically (and negatively) affect your life thanks to those fierce eruptions of air.
There are a couple of ways that a persistent cough might impact your general quality of life:
- Difficulty eating: Eating can be a bit of a challenge when you’re dealing with a persistent cough. That’s mainly because your esophagus can only regulate one direction of flow at a time; if air is moving up, food is not able to move down (but it will most likely come with some additional choking and coughing). Consequently, a chronic cough can make eating challenging.
- Difficulty sleeping: Even a light cough can wake you up from sleep, or keep you from falling asleep in the first place. When you’re about to fall asleep and you’re woken by a coughing attack, nothing could be more aggravating.
- Social stigma: Everybody is still worried about catching Covid. That’s justifiable and likely smart! But because of this, everybody is up at arms whenever they hear somebody cough. People will attempt to stay away from that person no matter what. Even if your cough is non-contagious, you’ll probably still experience a lot of social stigma. This will be an uncomfortable situation for anyone who has to go through it.
Defining a persistent cough
So, how can you tell a persistent cough from a lingering cold? Well, one of the simple diagnostic points is duration: how long have you been coughing? A chronic persistent cough, generally speaking, is one that lasts for more than 6-8 weeks.
Here are a few other symptoms that can come with a persistent cough:
- Night sweats
- A sore throat (particularly if you’re clearing your throat often)
- In some cases, a cough and a fever
- Shortness of breath and wheezing
- Heartburn
- Hoarseness
- Post nasal drip
- Weight loss
- Coughing up blood
These symptoms vary in severity. Generally speaking, however, if you encounter any of these symptoms, you should talk to your doctor about your treatment options.
What could be the cause of your persistent cough?
A persistent cough is not a disease itself, it’s usually a symptom of something else that’s going on in your body, so it’s a smart plan to get it checked out. These conditions can be more or less serious.
Here are some of the common causes:
- Medications: Some medications can cause coughing. Touch base with your doctor who will be able to tell you about these types of reactions. There may be alternate medication possibilities that don’t trigger the same reaction.
- Sinus problems: Below your eyes and behind your nose are cavities called sinuses. Coughing can be triggered by post-nasal-drip which in turn can be a result of sinus problems like a sinus infection. Depending on the root cause, medication or sometimes surgery will be used to treat a sinus infection.
- Digestive issues: In some cases, acid reflux or a condition called GERD can also cause coughing. In these cases, your body is reacting to the stomach acid or bile that’s traveling up your esophagus. It’s about as enjoyable as it sounds. Finding the best way to manage these digestive problems is important and your doctor can assist you with that.
- Lung diseases: Lots of lung diseases, like COPD, asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis, can bring about chronic coughing. Asthma is relatively common and can often be effectively managed with lifestyle choices and medications. However, diseases such as COPD are harder to deal with. Over time, this degenerative disease can affect your breathing. It might also cause you to cough more often.
- Smoking: Smoking is an overall health hazard, but that’s not surprising for anybody nowadays. And it can bring about all manner of lung issues, including a persistent cough. You could have contaminants, like tar, trapped in your throat which would be best case scenario. Long-term damage as a consequence of smoking might also be the cause of your cough if you’re less fortunate. Either way, your lungs will thank you if you stop smoking right away.
- Allergies: Sneezing is normally what most individuals think of when they consider allergies. But that’s not always the case. Coughing can also be triggered by allergies. You might want to ask your doctor about allergies if you exhibit a more persistent cough during the spring and summer months. And you will get a lot of insight from an allergy test.
These types of pulmonary diseases can’t necessarily be cured but they can be slowed.
When should your persistent cough be a concern?
So, when is it time to be concerned? Your cough will subside by itself in most situations. But if it’s sticking around for more than 6-8 weeks, and if it doesn’t respond to over-the-counter medicines at all, then it may be time to call your doctor and schedule an appointment.
Checking in on the health of your lungs, pulmonary system, and throat is never a bad plan even if your cough does subside. So call us as soon as possible for a consultation!
References
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/asthma