8+
Weeks
What is this cough?
In adults, chronic cough is a cough that has lasted more than 8 weeks. If this sounds like you, talk with your health care provider.
~10%
Affected
How common is it?
About 10% of adults worldwide may have chronic cough.
50s–60s
Age
Who may be affected?
The typical person with chronic cough is a woman in her 50s and 60s, and it affects twice as many women than men.
People with chronic cough may have:
A tickle in the throat
A dry cough that doesn't bring up much mucus
Uncontrollable coughing fits
A cough that disturbs sleep
Cough triggers
You may have a strong urge to cough from things that don't normally cause others to cough. You may also be more sensitive to certain irritants that do cause cough.
Things like:
Changes in temperature
Dry air
Laughing or talking
Perfume, strong smells
Aerosols, secondhand smoke, and dust
Chronic cough may impact you and those around you
Chronic cough can be annoying. It may also affect you physically, mentally, and socially:
Physical impact
Sleep disturbances
Loss of bladder control
Dizziness, headaches, and tiredness
Mental impact
Feelings of depression
Anxiousness
Embarrassment and frustration
Social impact
Interruption of social activities and hobbies
Problems speaking
Annoyance to friends and family
Your chronic cough may have a name
Chronic cough is commonly associated with other conditions, such as asthma, postnasal drip, or acid reflux. But for others, a persistent cough could be another type of chronic cough called refractory or unexplained chronic cough.
Discover more about types of chronic cough below
Refractory or unexplained chronic cough
Refractory chronic cough
A cough lasting more than 8 weeks in adults that doesn't go away after being treated for other conditions connected with cough.
Unexplained chronic cough
A cough in adults lasting more than 8 weeks with no condition found that is connected with cough, even after thorough investigation.
Postnasal drip, also known as upper airway cough syndrome (UACS)
When your nose or sinuses produce extra mucus, it can drip down the back of your throat and trigger your cough reflex.
Reflux cough
This type of cough can be caused by reflux of acidic stomach contents.
Asthmatic cough
Asthma
A condition with airway swelling/narrowing, as well as the production of extra mucus.
Cough-variant asthma
A type of asthma where cough is the main symptom.
Nonasthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis (NAEB)
Airway inflammation not caused by asthma.
latrogenic cough
Chronic cough can occur as a (known) side effect in people taking medication as instructed by their health care provider.
Chronic cough in other diseases
Conditions such as lung cancer and cystic fibrosis, as well as other lung diseases, e.g. interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), are all associated with chronic cough.
Working with your health care team can help you understand what could be behind your cough.
Talking with your health care provider
Take the cough questionnaire to be prepared to discuss your cough.
