Cough

A cough is a reflex that forces bursts of air through your airways and out of your throat and mouth. You usually feel a tickly or scratchy feeling in your throat that makes you cough.

A cough is your body’s way of protecting you from foreign substances that find their way into your airways. It also clears mucus out of your lungs and airways, which also gets rid of germs and irritants.

You might have a dry, nonproductive cough (without mucus) or a wet, productive cough (with mucus). A cough might be barky (a sign of croup) or end with a whoop (a sign of whooping cough). It might come on suddenly and go away within a few weeks. Or it might seem like it’s been going on forever and will never go away (chronic cough).

What are the most common causes of cough?

Some common causes of cough include:

• Acid reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Allergens, like pollen, pet dander and molds
• Asthma
• Certain medications, like ACE inhibitors and nasal sprays
• COPD and other chronic lung diseases
• Infections, like colds, flu, whooping cough, bronchitis and pneumonia
• Irritants, like smoke, dust and strong smells
• Postnasal drip

Less common causes include cancers that affect your lungs, heart disease and vocal cord disorders. A healthcare provider might use a chest X-ray or lung function tests to help diagnose the cause of a cough.

Complications

Too much coughing or forceful coughing can lead to:

• Asthma attacks
• Difficulty breathing
• Choking
• Fainting
• Headache
• Muscle pain and strains
• Rib fractures
• Vomiting

What is the best medicine for a cough?

Some over-the-counter (OTC) treatments might help with a cough. These include:

• Cough drops, throat lozenges and throat sprays: These might numb or soothe your throat for temporary relief from the tickly cough feeling.
• Cough suppressants: Cough suppressants like dextromethorphan help calm the part of your brain that tells you to cough.
• Decongestants: Decongestants might help if postnasal drip is causing a cough or making it worse.
• Expectorants: Expectorants like guaifenesin help thin out mucus. This makes it easier for you to cough out what’s irritating your airways.
• Honey: Some studies suggest that a spoonful of honey works as well as medications to calm a cough. But you shouldn’t give honey to kids under a year old.

Don’t give cough medications to children unless their provider (like a pediatrician or family doctor) says it’s OK.

How can I help a cough at home?

You can avoid coughing or help a cough go away faster if you:

• Drink water. Staying hydrated can help thin out mucus.
• Sit in a steamy shower or use a humidifier. This can loosen mucus and keep your airways moist.
• Don’t smoke and vape. Cigarette smoke and vaping mist can cause inflammation in your airways.
• Avoid irritants. This includes scents, secondhand or campfire smoke, and allergens.

Treating health conditions that cause cough

If an ongoing health condition is causing a cough, your provider might prescribe:

• Antibiotics for bacterial infections
• Antihistamines or steroid nasal sprays (like Flonase®) for allergies
• Inhalers for asthma or COPD management
• Oral steroids for croup or flare-ups of asthma or COPD
• Proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers for acid reflux

When should I worry about a cough?

Talk to a healthcare provider if you or your child has:

• A cough that lasts longer than a few weeks or gets worse over time
• A cough that makes a barking or whooping sound
• Vomiting from a cough
• A fever that lasts more than a day or two
• Yellow, green or bloody mucus

Go to an emergency room or call 911 (or your local emergency service number) if you have a cough and you:

• Feel like you’re choking
• Can’t breathe well
• See a lot of blood when you cough
• Wheeze (make a noise when you breathe out)
• Have severe chest pain

How do I stop uncontrollable coughing?

Taking a sip of water, sucking on a cough drop (carefully to avoid choking) or sitting in a steamy shower might help stop a coughing fit. But uncontrollable coughing can be scary and hard to manage. It can make it hard to breathe and cause you to throw up or choke.

If you have frequent coughing fits, see a healthcare provider or go to the emergency room. They may be able to treat you with a steroid or other medications to calm your cough.

What does it mean if I cough after eating?

Coughing soon after eating could be a sign of acid reflux. Or if you cough while eating, food may have gone “down the wrong way” (aspiration). This means it went towards your lungs instead of your stomach. You cough to try to force the food out, so it doesn’t get into your lungs.