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Cough
Category: Lungs & Breathing · All lungs & breathing symptoms
What it can feel like
A cough is a reflex that clears the airways of mucus, irritants and infection. It is one of the most common symptoms of all — most coughs are caused by viral infections and fade over two to three weeks, though the pattern, duration and what comes up with it guide what it means.
Possible causes
A symptom can have many causes, and most are not serious. The lists below group conditions this symptom can be associated with — common causes first. They are possibilities to discuss with a clinician, not a diagnosis.
Common causes
A cough can be associated with colds, flu and other viral chest infections, with post-nasal drip from the sinuses, with asthma, with heartburn reflux irritating the airway, with smoking and with dusty or cold air.
Other possible causes
A cough lasting more than three weeks, or one that keeps returning, can be associated with chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, allergies, some blood pressure medicines (ACE inhibitors), or, less commonly, lung conditions including cancer.
Red flags — when to seek help promptly
- Coughing up blood, even small amounts
- A cough lasting more than three weeks, or a changed long-standing cough
- Cough with breathlessness, chest pain or wheezing that is not settling
- Cough with weight loss, drenching night sweats or persistent fever
- A baby or young child with a cough and difficulty breathing or feeding
What a clinician may do
A clinician will ask how long the cough has lasted, whether you bring anything up, and about smoking, medicines and other symptoms, then listen to your chest. A chest X-ray and sometimes lung function tests or sputum tests follow if the cough persists.
Watch: related videos
Examination and clinical videos from the MedicalVideos.com library relevant to this symptom. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
How long should a cough last?
A cough after a viral infection commonly takes two to three weeks to clear and can linger a little longer. A cough that is not improving by three weeks, or that keeps coming back, should be assessed rather than simply endured.
Why does my cough get worse lying down?
Lying flat lets mucus from the nose and sinuses drain onto the airway, and lets stomach acid reflux reach higher — both common cough triggers. Propping the head of the bed up slightly and treating the nose or reflux often helps; your clinician can advise.
Related symptoms — Lungs & Breathing
Browse the C section of the A–Z list or return to the Symptoms A–Z hub.