Version July 2025
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What is a cough? —
This is an important reflex that helps clear out the body's airways. The airways include the windpipe, or "trachea," and the bronchi, which are the tubes that carry air within the lungs (figure 1). Coughing helps keep people from breathing things into the airways and lungs, which could cause problems.
It is normal to cough once in a while. But sometimes, a cough is a symptom of an illness or condition.
Some coughs are called "dry" because they don't bring up mucus (phlegm). Other coughs are called "wet" or "productive" because they do bring up mucus. Some coughs are mild and don't cause serious problems. Other coughs are severe and can cause trouble breathing.
What causes a cough? —
In adults, common causes of a cough include:
●Viral infections – These include colds, the flu, and COVID-19. Usually, a cough caused by a viral infection only lasts for a week or 2, but sometimes, it can last longer.
●Smoking cigarettes or vaping
●Postnasal drip – This is when mucus from the nose drips down or flows along the back of the throat. It can happen when people have a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection.
●Lung conditions – Lung problems like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ("COPD") can make it hard to breathe. COPD is usually caused by smoking.
●Acid reflux – This is when the acid that is normally in the stomach backs up into the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach).
●A side effect from blood pressure medicines called "ACE inhibitors"
Will I need tests? —
Maybe. If you see a doctor for your cough, they will talk with you and do an exam. Based on your symptoms and other factors, you might need tests. These might include:
●Swab from the inside of your nose – This can be tested for the virus that causes COVID-19.
●Chest X-ray
●Breathing tests – These involve breathing hard into a tube. They show how well your lungs are working.
●Allergy skin tests to find out what you're allergic to – The doctor puts a drop of the substance you might be allergic to on your skin and makes a tiny prick in your skin. Then, they watch your skin to see if it gets red and bumpy.
●CT scan of your chest or sinuses – This is an imaging test that creates pictures of the inside of the body.
●Lab tests on a sample of the mucus you cough up
●Using a "scope" to look inside your nose, sinuses, airway, or lungs
●Tests to check for acid reflux – These usually involve having a thin tube put in your mouth and down into your esophagus.
How do I care for myself at home?
●If your cough is from a cold, you can use a cool mist humidifier in the room where you sleep.
●Suck on cough drops or hard candy.
●Drink warm liquids like tea to soothe your throat.
●Avoid smoking and places where other people are smoking.
●If you have allergies, avoid the things you are allergic to. This might include pollen, dust, animals, or mold.
●If you are coughing up mucus, try an over-the-counter cold and cough medicine. These can thin mucus and might reduce the urge to cough.
●If you have acid reflux, your doctor or nurse will talk to you about how to reduce symptoms.
How is a cough treated? —
Treatment depends on the cause of your cough. For example:
●If you have an infection caused by bacteria, doctors can treat it with antibiotics. If the infection is caused by a virus (such as a cold), antibiotics do not help. For some viral infections, like the flu or COVID-19, there might be other medicines that can help.
●Postnasal drip is treated with different kinds of medicines that can come as pills or nose spray.
●Asthma and COPD are usually treated with medicines you breathe into your lungs, called "inhaler medicines."
●Acid reflux can be treated with medicine to reduce or block stomach acid.
●If you have a cough as a side effect from an ACE inhibitor, your doctor can switch your medicine.
If the cause of your cough is not clear, your doctor might prescribe medicine to make your cough less severe. But these medicines have side effects, and doctors usually recommend them only if nothing else has worked.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call your doctor or nurse if:
●You have trouble breathing or noisy breathing (wheezing).
●You have a fever or chest pain.
●You cough up blood, or yellow or green mucus.
●You cough so hard it makes you vomit.
●Your cough gets worse or lasts longer than 14 days.
●You have a cough and have lost weight without trying to.
Patient education: Coughing up blood (The Basics)
Patient education: Whooping cough in teens and adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough, runny nose, and colds (The Basics)
Patient education: Flu (The Basics)
Patient education: COVID-19 overview (The Basics)
Patient education: Pneumonia in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Acute bronchitis in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Chronic bronchitis (The Basics)
Patient education: Bronchiectasis in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Environmental allergies in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Sinusitis in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Asthma in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (The Basics)
Patient education: Acid reflux and GERD in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Breathing tests (The Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking for adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Chronic cough in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: The common cold in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Influenza symptoms and treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Pneumonia in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Acute bronchitis in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Acute sinusitis (sinus infection) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Quitting smoking (Beyond the Basics)
