Norman, Canada 
Actual patient with chronic cough

What may be behind chronic
cough?

Coughing is a normal part of our everyday lives-it's one of the ways our bodies protect us from too much mucus or harmful things we can breathe in.

For some people with chronic cough, their persistent cough is not always related to these triggers alone.

See what may be contributing to your chronic cough

In some people, the normal cough process can be disrupted, which can lead them to cough more than normal.

The process of cough

1. Lungs

Damage, inflammation, or irritation in your airway may activate nerves.

2. Signal

These activated nerves can send a signal to your brain.

3. Cough

Your brain may interpret these signals, telling your body to cough.

What to expect when seeking care

Your health care provider will:

Perform a physical exam and see whether you have a history of any factors that could play a role in your cough and make sure that you don't have any life-threatening conditions.
Make sure you aren't experiencing side effects from a medication.
Run various tests for conditions often connected with chronic cough.
Assess whether you may have refractory or unexplained chronic cough if your cough continues even after treatment with medications or if the cause is unknown.

Can chronic cough be spread?

Chronic cough is commonly caused by conditions such as asthma or acid reflux, which aren't contagious. Talk with your health care provider to learn more.