Cough That Lasts More Than 3 Weeks: Could Your Lifestyle Be Making It Worse?

Fast Facts

• Cough greater than 3 weeks requires medical assessment.
• Smoking, air pollution, dust and strong scents may aggravate coughing.
• A persistent cough can also be caused by allergies, asthma, acid reflux and respiratory infections.
• Treatment depends on the underlying cause; avoiding triggers may help to reduce symptoms.
• If your cough persists, gets worse or interferes with your daily life, seek medical help without delay.
• Coughing up blood or having trouble breathing is an emergency.

What is a Persistent Cough?

A persistent cough is one that lingers longer than you would have expected following an illness. In adults, cough lasting > 3 weeks is generally considered a persistent cough requiring medical evaluation.

It can occur after a respiratory illness, or may be associated with asthma, allergies, acid reflux, or other health issues. Common habits and environmental triggers may also make it worse.

How Your Lifestyle Can Make a Cough Worse?

Certain regular routines can irritate your airways and cause you to cough often.

Smoking and Passive Smoking Exposure

Cigarette smoke irritates the airways, and causes the creation of more mucus. Coughing may be worsened by second hand smoke.

Dust and Air Pollution

Dust, car emissions and construction particles irritate the respiratory tract, especially in asthmatics or persons with allergies.

Acid Reflux and Nighttime Eating

Large meals before bed could make acid reflux worse. Coughing, especially when lying down, can be caused by contents of the stomach moving back toward the throat.

Indoor Allergens & Heavy Fragrances

Dust mites, mold, pet dander, fragrances and cleaning sprays can irritate the lungs and bring on a cough.

Poor sleep and lack of rest

If you are sick, you may feel fatigued if you do not get enough sleep. It may not be the exact reason for a chronic cough, but enough rest will help with total recovery.

Other Reasons for a Chronic Cough

Sometimes a chronic cough is not caused by habits of lifestyle. Other potential causes include:

• Post-infectious cough: A cough that persists after a cold or other respiratory infection.
• Asthma: May result in coughing at night, during activity, or after exposure to triggers.
• Allergies and postnasal drip: Mucus dripping down the throat might cause coughing.
• Acid reflux stomach acid can irritate the throat and create a chronic cough.

Respiratory infections: Diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) can cause a chronic cough, especially if you also have a fever, night sweats or unexplained weight loss.

• Some medications: Some blood pressure drugs like ACE inhibitors can lead to a dry cough that won’t go away.

“Knowing the cause is important as treatment will be based on what the underlying condition is.”

When to consult a doctor?

If your cough lasts more than three weeks, especially if it is getting worse, keeps coming back, or is disturbing your sleep and everyday activities, you should see a healthcare specialist.

If you have a fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss or persistent chest discomfort, then see the doctor right once. If you are coughing up blood, have significant chest pain, or have trouble breathing, seek quick attention.

How to decrease triggers of cough?

Modifications to minimize airway irritation :

• Do not smoke and avoid secondhand smoke.
• Avoid dust, pollution and harsh odors.
• Drink water, to soothe dry throat.
• Don’t eat large meals near sleep if you have acid reflux.
• Remove moisture or mold and clean indoor places.
• Take the recommended medicines as directed and do not self medicate with antibiotics.

These methods may help control symptoms, but are not a substitute for medical assessment if cough persists.

Don’t Ignore a Chronic Cough

A cough that lasts longer than 3 weeks may be caused by everyday habits, environmental irritants, or a health problem. Knowing the cause is crucial, however symptom monitoring and avoidance of likely triggers may assist.

If it lasts longer, see a health care provider to find out what’s causing it and to get the right therapy.