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6 times your persistent cough is something more serious

When your cough isn’t caused by a cold or allergy, it may be time to call a healthcare provider.

Updated on September 27, 2024

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A cough is the body’s natural reflex that helps clear the airways of foreign particles and irritants. 

“The whole purpose of the cough is to help clear the lungs of mucus, infection, or anything that develops in the lungs,” says Nicholas Roy, DO, an expert in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine, and critical care in Vineland, New Jersey. 

The most common causeShow More

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Common Signs of Trouble

These symptoms may be first indicators of an underlying condition that requires medical attention:

Presence of blood: Coughing up blood, or hemoptysis, shouldn’t be ignored. “It’s not uncommon to have very small blood vessels rupture from coughing violently,” says Dr. Roy. “Sometimes you can get aShow More

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Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition that affects the lungs and can make breathing difficult. Typically, signs of asthma include shortness of breath, wheezing, chest tightness, coughing, or a combination of these symptoms.

Sometimes, a chronic cough is the only symptom. “Some people with asthma actuallyShow More

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Bronchitis

A persistent cough is common among people with bronchitis. This condition is marked by inflammation of the passageways that carry air to and from the lungs. Bronchitis can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or particles that irritate the passageways, like cigarette smoke or dust. The main symptomShow More

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Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death among both men and women in the United States. The most common cause of lung cancer? Cigarette smoke. Despite this, lung cancer can develop in nonsmokers and those with no history of prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke

Symptoms ofShow More

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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Acid reflux is a common condition in which stomach acid flows up into the esophagus and causes heartburn, characterized by a burning sensation in the chest. Many people experience acid reflux on occasion. Usually it’s not cause for concern.

When heartburn occurs two or more times a week, or isShow More

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Reaction to ACE inhibitor

If you notice a persistent cough after starting medication to manage hypertension (high blood pressure), it may not be a coincidence. “A cough that’s secondary to medications, like an ACE inhibitor, is pretty common,” Roy says.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are a group ofShow More

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Bronchiectasis

Damage to the large airways in the lungs that causes the passageways to widen is known as bronchiectasis. “Bronchiectasis is a dilation of some of your airways that causes mucus to become lodged in the lungs and can cause a chronic cough,” Roy says.

For some, bronchiectasis is present at birth,Show More

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