Key takeaways:
The most common causes of a cough — like the common cold, bronchitis, or postnasal drip — usually aren’t a serious threat to your health. Many of these don’t need a trip to a healthcare professional.
More serious causes of a cough — like pneumonia or heart problems — do need evaluation and treatment. These conditions usually cause other symptoms, which can help you know when to get medical attention.
Most coughs will resolve on their own with time and rest. Some evidence shows that home remedies, like honey and vitamin C, can help soothe symptoms.
Every year in the U.S., there are over 30 million healthcare visits for coughs. Maybe you have a lingering cough that just won’t go away, or maybe it’s a hacking cough that keeps you up at night. In these cases, you may 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. Either way, we’ll walk you through how to know when you should see a healthcare professional about a cough.
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 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (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.
Increased 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 keeping you in bed most of the 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: Heart failure causes fluid buildup in both the lungs and the legs. And, if you have swelling in one leg, this could be the sign of a blood clot.
Abdominal pain or vomiting: Heart problems or pneumonia can sometimes lead to abdominal pain, rather than chest pain — and the reverse is also true. Also, some infections in your abdomen can cause coughing when they’re close to your lungs or diaphragm.
Unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite: It’s important to see a healthcare professional to check this out, since these symptoms can be connected to more serious conditions, like cancer or infection.
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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 that 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.
When to take your child to the doctor for a cough
Children should see their pediatrician for all the reasons listed above. There are also 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. The 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.
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.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors: A dry cough is a well-known side effect of ACE inhibitors, which are one of the most common types of medication for high blood pressure.
Acid reflux: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) doesn’t just cause heartburn, it can also cause a chronic cough.
When do you need antibiotics for a cough? Most of the time, people don’t need antibiotics to get over a cough. But it’s important to know the exceptions.
Dry cough vs. wet cough: We explain what this means about your cough, and the best over-the-counter remedies for each.
What does it mean if you have bloody mucus? There are many causes for bloody mucus, and not all of them are a cause for concern. Learn when to see a healthcare professional.
More serious (but still common) causes of coughing include:
Pneumonia: This is an infection of the lung, which can be caused by viruses or bacteria. Unlike a cold, pneumonia directly affects your lungs.
Lung disease: Anyone with 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.
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. These two simple exams can give them a lot of clues about what’s going on. If they need more information, they may recommend some diagnostic tests.
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Diagnosing the cause of a cough
Common tests for a cough include:
Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray is a 2D picture of your lungs and heart, which can help diagnose things like pneumonia or heart failure.
Electrocardiogram (EKG): An EKG is 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 spit 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 most effective antibiotic for you will depend 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.
Quiz: Do I have bronchitis?
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.
Cough drops: Who doesn’t love candy for a cold? Different products contain different ingredients, so experiment with what works for you. But don’t give them to infants and young children, since they’re a choking hazard.
Frequently asked questions
Common causes of uncontrollable coughing include:
Bronchitis
Reactive airways following a respiratory infection
Allergies and asthma
COPD
Medication side effects, like from ACE inhibitors
Postnasal drip or GERD, especially if your cough is more prominent in the morning
When you have a cold, a cough is often the last symptom to improve. It can last up to 3 weeks after your infection has cleared.
Signs that your cold is getting better include complete resolution of:
Fever
Congestion or sputum production
Shortness of breath
Generalized fatigue or lack of energy
Lack of appetite or vomiting
More signs your cold is improving include:
You’re coughing less frequently.
It’s easier to clear mucus with each cough.
Both wet and dry coughs can be serious, so there are no firm rules. But, in general, dry coughs often come from irritation in your upper airway. Wet coughs, on the other hand, often come from infection or inflammation in your lower airways.
Common causes of a dry cough include:
Colds
GERD
Postnasal drip
Medications (like ACE inhibitors)
Common causes of wet cough include:
Bronchitis
Pneumonia
Flu
COPD
If you go to an urgent care for a cough, a healthcare professional will be able to take your vital signs and listen to your lungs. These two quick exams can give them a lot of information about what might be going on. Some urgent care clinics can also perform chest X-rays and blood tests, but not all of them. So, if you think you might need those, it’s a good idea to ask before you check in. Healthcare professionals at urgent care clinics can also prescribe antibiotics and cough medicines. Though many times, neither of these are needed for a cough.
It can be hard to tell if a cough is viral or bacterial based on symptoms alone. Though there are some clues that suggest you may have a bacterial infection in the lungs. These include:
A persistent fever or night sweats that won’t go away
Worsening symptoms after you were starting to feel better
A lot of mucus production (although don’t read too much into the color of your mucus)
Bloody mucus
Significant shortness of breath
Profound weakness or fatigue
Any confusion or mental status changes
Symptoms that aren’t getting better after about a week
If you have any concern that you or a loved one has a cough that seems more severe than normal, it’s always better to get checked out by a healthcare professional. This is especially true for young children and older adults.
Many conditions can cause coughing. Some of the more common causes include:
The common cold and other viral infections
Asthma and allergies
Postnasal drip
Acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD)
Pneumonia
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Common causes of uncontrollable coughing include:
Bronchitis
Reactive airways following a respiratory infection
Allergies and asthma
COPD
Medication side effects, like from ACE inhibitors
Postnasal drip or GERD, especially if your cough is more prominent in the morning
When you have a cold, a cough is often the last symptom to improve. It can last up to 3 weeks after your infection has cleared.
Signs that your cold is getting better include complete resolution of:
Fever
Congestion or sputum production
Shortness of breath
Generalized fatigue or lack of energy
Lack of appetite or vomiting
More signs your cold is improving include:
You’re coughing less frequently.
It’s easier to clear mucus with each cough.
Both wet and dry coughs can be serious, so there are no firm rules. But, in general, dry coughs often come from irritation in your upper airway. Wet coughs, on the other hand, often come from infection or inflammation in your lower airways.
Common causes of a dry cough include:
Colds
GERD
Postnasal drip
Medications (like ACE inhibitors)
Common causes of wet cough include:
Bronchitis
Pneumonia
Flu
COPD
If you go to an urgent care for a cough, a healthcare professional will be able to take your vital signs and listen to your lungs. These two quick exams can give them a lot of information about what might be going on. Some urgent care clinics can also perform chest X-rays and blood tests, but not all of them. So, if you think you might need those, it’s a good idea to ask before you check in. Healthcare professionals at urgent care clinics can also prescribe antibiotics and cough medicines. Though many times, neither of these are needed for a cough.
It can be hard to tell if a cough is viral or bacterial based on symptoms alone. Though there are some clues that suggest you may have a bacterial infection in the lungs. These include:
A persistent fever or night sweats that won’t go away
Worsening symptoms after you were starting to feel better
A lot of mucus production (although don’t read too much into the color of your mucus)
Bloody mucus
Significant shortness of breath
Profound weakness or fatigue
Any confusion or mental status changes
Symptoms that aren’t getting better after about a week
If you have any concern that you or a loved one has a cough that seems more severe than normal, it’s always better to get checked out by a healthcare professional. This is especially true for young children and older adults.
Many conditions can cause coughing. Some of the more common causes include:
The common cold and other viral infections
Asthma and allergies
Postnasal drip
Acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD)
Pneumonia
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
The bottom line
Fighting off a cough can take time. Even though most people want a quick fix, time and rest are often the best cures. There are also some home remedies that may help along the way, like honey and zinc.
If your cough is worsening, or hasn’t improved after several days, don’t hesitate to see a healthcare professional. They can run some quick tests to get you checked out. And they can get you the treatment you need to make sure you’re on the right path to recovery.
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References
Li, X., et al. (2019). Gastroesophageal reflux disease and chronic cough: A possible mechanism elucidated by ambulatory pH-impedance-pressure monitoring. Neurogastroenterology and Motility.
Oduwole, O., et al. (2018). Honey for acute cough in children. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Sharma, S., et al. (2022). Cough. StatPearls.
Singh, A., et al. (2022). Acute bronchitis. StatPearls.
