Cough

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Lungs

Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. However, excessive coughing may mean you have an underlying disease or disorder.

Some coughs are dry, while others are considered productive. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus. Mucus is also called phlegm or sputum.

Coughs can be either acute or chronic:

• Acute coughs usually begin suddenly. They are often due to a cold, flu, or sinus infection. They usually go away after 2 to 3 weeks.
• Chronic coughs last longer than 2 to 3 weeks.

Besides recent upper airway infections such as the common cold and flu, other common causes of coughs include:

• Allergies and asthma
• Lung infections such as  pneumonia or acute bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)
• Sinusitis leading to postnasal drip
• Lung disease such as bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, or tumors
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Cigarette smoking
• Exposure to secondhand smoke 
• Exposure to air pollutants
• ACE inhibitors (medications used to control blood pressure)

If a child has a barking cough, see croup.

Review Date: 03/02/2006
Reviewed By: David A. Kaufman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.