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When should you start worrying about cough that persists?

When should you start worrying about cough that persists?

Are you suffering from persistent cough? Here are the possible reasons for your prolonged cough.

Written by Shraddha Rupavate |Updated : March 5, 2015 12:17 PM IST

Persistent cough Most people are not bothered about cough when it starts initially because it occurs with common cold or a viral throat infection. Cough is so common that hardly anyone realizes it could be due to a bigger problem.

Most coughs go away completely or at least improve significantly within a period of two weeks. Cough that is persistent or lasts for more than 8 weeks is called chronic cough. It can also go on for months together depending on what's the main underlying cause.

Ideally, any type of cough which does not improve after 2-3 weeks may imply a serious underlying condition that should be immediately addressed by a doctor. But, there are other signs of persistent cough that you should worry about.

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1. If you tend to make high-pitched whooping sound (barking sound) while coughing. You may be suffering from whooping cough. Read more how exposure to whooping cough can lead to early death.

2. If cough is accompanied by uncontrolled wheezing sound and breathing difficulty. This could be related to asthma. Here are 10 asthma triggers you should avoid.

3. If you constantly feel irritation in the throat even when you are not coughing. This could indicate an infection.

4. If you have recovered from cold but suddenly you develop cough which hasn't gone even after 2-3 weeks. You might have acute or chronic bronchitis.

5. If other symptoms like chest pain and stomach pain are associated with coughing. You might be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

6. If you have persistent wet (productive) cough that produces greenish or rusty mucus. This is a characteristic feature of pneumonia along with other symptoms like fever, fatigue and chills. Read more about pneumonia causes, symptoms,vaccine, prevention and treatment.

7. If exposure to certain pollutants has triggered chronic cough. You could be allergic to them. Here are some expert tips to deal with allergic cough.

8. If your cough started after taking certain medications. Patients with heart diseases and blood pressure are often prescribed ACE inhibitors which can cause chronic cough.

9. If you cough up blood.

Although doctors first try to determine what's causing cough, cough itself can cause several other problems. People with chronic cough become frustrated and often lose their focus. Coughing interferes with sleep and any other daily activities. Besides, chronic coughing can also lead to urinary incontinence, headache and rib injury.

References

  • Richard S. Irwin. Complications of Cough
  • Persistent Cough (http://www.drugs.com/)

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  • Why does pollution cause cough?

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