Can’t Stop Coughing? Here’s When to See Your Doctor

Every year in the U.S., there are over 30 million healthcare visits for coughs. This might be for a lingering cough that just won’t go away or a hacking cough that keeps you up at night. In these cases, it’s easy to wonder whether you should see a healthcare professional to figure out if you’re missing something. Or you may want to see one just to get some relief. 

But not all coughs require a trip to a healthcare office. We’ll walk you through the most common causes of a cough and how to know when you should see a healthcare professional about it. 

The most common causes of a cough

Many conditions can cause coughing. Here are some of the more common causes:

• The common cold: Cold viruses infect the area from your nose to your throat. Coughing doesn’t mean the infection has traveled into your lungs. 

• Flu-like illnesses: Viruses that cause more serious symptoms — like COVID-19 and the flu — often cause a cough along with fever and generalized body aches. 

• Asthma and allergies: Inflammation in your airways usually causes a cough. This is often accompanied by chest tightness and/or wheezing. 

• Postnasal drip: This is when congestion from your nose drips down the back of your throat. This congestion is often caused by a cold or allergies. 

• Bronchitis: It’s estimated that over 95% of bronchitis cases are caused by viruses, similar to colds. This can lead to a prolonged cough, even after the infection clears.

• ACE inhibitors: A dry cough is a well-known side effect of ACE inhibitors — one of the most common medications for high blood pressure. 

• Acid reflux: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) doesn’t just cause heartburn — it can also cause a chronic cough. 

More serious (but still common) causes of coughing include:

• Pneumonia: This is an infection of the lung and it can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Unlike a cold, pneumonia directly affects your lungs. 

• Lung disease: Anyone with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or interstitial lung disease (ILD) knows how these conditions cause long-term cough and/or wheezing. Exacerbations of these conditions can be serious and worsen quickly. 

• Heart failure: When the heart isn’t pumping effectively, fluid backs up in your lungs and can cause coughing. 

• Lung cancer: This is less common than the conditions above. But sometimes lung cancer can lead to a cough that doesn’t go away. 

Whether you know the cause of your cough or not, it can be hard to know when it’s time to visit your primary care provider.

Quiz: Do I have bronchitis?

When do you need to go to the doctor for your cough?

If you’re dealing with a new or persistent cough, there are a few signs that suggest you should get medical attention as soon as possible:

• Difficulty breathing: This can be a sign of an infection, fluid in your lungs, lung scarring, or worsening COPD. 

• Blue or pale lips: These are signs of low oxygen levels in your blood.

• Persistent fever: The common cold can cause a fever. But if your fever lasts more than 2 days — or starts later in your illness — this could be a sign of pneumonia. 

• Coughing up blood: A little bit of blood in your mucus isn’t always a cause for concern. But more serious episodes can be a sign of pneumonia, blood clots, heart failure, or abnormal masses like cancer.

• Abnormal mucus production: You don’t need to worry too much about the color of your sputum. But if it doesn’t clear up after a few weeks or seems like it’s getting worse rather than better with time, it could be a sign of a more serious infection. 

• Excessive fatigue or weakness: Most people feel a bit tired when they’re sick. But if fatigue is getting in the way of you going about your day, see a healthcare professional. They can check things like your oxygen level and blood counts.

• Chest pain: More serious heart or lung problems can cause chest pain. This usually feels different from the pain you only get when actively coughing.

• Swelling in your legs: When heart failure causes fluid buildup in your lungs, it usually causes swelling in your legs as well.

• Abdominal pain or vomiting: Heart problems or pneumonia can sometimes lead to abdominal pain rather than chest pain. And the reverse is also true. Some infections in your abdomen can cause coughing when they’re close to your lungs or diaphragm. 

• Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite: These symptoms can be connected to more serious conditions like cancer or infection, so they are important to rule out.

Even if none of these symptoms apply to you, you may still wonder if you should see a healthcare professional for a cough that doesn’t seem to go away. When caused by a cold, most coughs gradually improve after your other symptoms get better. Your cough is often the last symptom to improve. But if you feel your symptoms are getting worse instead of better, you should see your primary care provider. This is also true if you have a new cough that’s lasting for several weeks and not getting better.

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When to take your child to the doctor for a cough

Children should see their pediatrician for all the reasons listed above. There are a few additional reasons it’s important to get help: 

• Age under 24 months: Babies and infants with a new cough should be evaluated for a possible bacterial infection, swallowed objects, or asthma. 

• Abdominal pain: This can be a sign of pneumonia in both adults and children. But kids are more likely to complain of a bellyache when they have pneumonia. 

• Barky cough: This is a sign of croup, a condition usually caused by a viral infection. It affects your vocal cords and leads to a very harsh, barking cough. Croup often gets better after a few days, but it can be more serious when it affects breathing.

• Sudden onset: If a toddler suddenly develops a cough or trouble breathing, they may have swallowed or choked on something. Even if you didn’t witness an obvious choking episode, a sudden onset of coughing is a reason to get it checked out.

No matter what, none of these reasons are more important than a parent’s or caretaker’s instinct. If your child’s cough is worrisome to you, see your pediatrician or go to an after-hours care center. 

What will your doctor do for a cough?

If you visit your doctor’s office for a cough, they’ll start by taking your vital signs and listening to your lungs. This alone can give them a lot of clues about what’s going on. If they need more information, they may recommend some diagnostic tests.

Diagnosing a cough

Common tests for a cough include:

• Chest X-ray: A 2D picture of your lungs and heart can help diagnose things like pneumonia or heart failure. 

• EKG (electrocardiogram): A quick, painless test that provides a lot of information about your heart health.

• Nasal swabs: These are used to test for viruses like COVID or influenza. Other viruses, like respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can also be tested this way, but it’s not always part of routine testing.

• Sputum test: Some infections, like bacterial or fungal pneumonia, are diagnosed with a sputum sample rather than a nasal swab. 

• Blood tests: Depending on your symptoms and other health conditions, your primary care provider may want to check some lab work. This might include things like blood counts, electrolytes, or heart tests. 

Treating a cough

Depending on the reason for your cough, you may be prescribed medications. These may include:

• Cough medication: There are plenty of over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can help your cough. Your prescriber may also recommend prescription cough medications like benzonatate or promethazine / codeine. 

• Steroids: For people with airway inflammation or bronchitis, prednisone can help calm some of the inflammation causing a cough. This is more likely for people with asthma or COPD. 

• Inhalers: Inhaled medications like albuterol may be helpful for some people. Like steroids, these are more likely to be helpful for people with chronic lung conditions.

• Antibiotics: If you have pneumonia, you may need to treat your infection with antibiotics. The specific antibiotic depends on your age and the type of infection.

A healthcare professional may also suggest starting a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) if your cough is due to GERD. If your cough is a side effect of medication — like an ACE inhibitor — they may adjust your prescription. 

What are some home remedies for a cough?

In most cases, a cough doesn’t need any specific or prescribed treatment. But there are still several things you can try at home that might help you feel better:

• Honey: People often use honey to ease their cough. One review study in children found that honey may help decrease coughing and allow children to sleep. 

• Humidified air: Many people report relief when they sleep with a humidifier — especially in dry or arid conditions. 

• Zinc: There’s been growing interest in zinc’s potential to fight colds. And some studies suggest it may decrease the length of time someone is sick. 

• Vitamin C: A popular remedy for colds, vitamin C shows mixed results in studies. But some research suggests it may help if you take it within 24 hours of getting sick. 

• Echinacea: This is another supplement that people use to fight off colds. Like zinc and vitamin C, the evidence is mixed. But it’s unlikely to do any harm. 

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Written by:

Katie E. Golden, MD

Katie E. Golden, MD, is a board-certified emergency medicine physician and a medical editor at GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Sophie Vergnaud, MD

Sophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. An experienced and dedicated pulmonologist and hospitalist, she spent a decade practicing and teaching clinical medicine at academic hospitals throughout London before transitioning to a career in health education and health technology.

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