Chronic Cough
A chronic cough is a cough that lasts eight weeks or longer in adults, or four weeks in children.
A chronic cough is more than just an annoyance. A chronic cough can interrupt your sleep and leave you feeling exhausted. Severe cases of chronic cough can cause vomiting, lightheadedness and even rib fractures.
While it can sometimes be difficult to pinpoint the problem that's triggering a chronic cough, the most common causes are tobacco use, postnasal drip, asthma and acid reflux. Fortunately, chronic cough typically disappears once the underlying problem is treated.
Symptoms
A chronic cough can occur with other signs and symptoms, which may include:
A runny or stuffy nose
A feeling of liquid running down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
Frequent throat clearing and sore throat Hoarseness
Wheezing and shortness of breath
Heartburn or a sour taste in your mouth
In rare cases, coughing up blood