Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Can I Do For Persistent Cough For Months With Some Mucus?
Question: I am very healthy, fit 47 year old, 178 lbs. I have had a persistent cough for months...I am single, so don't notice it much, but my girlfriend and coworkers have noticed. It is almost like a nervous tick, usually just cough or 2. frequency i guess maybe every 10 min. Sometimes, there is a bit of mucus, but usually not. I don't have allergies, that I know of.
Brief Answer:
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Persistent coughs should be looked into so I recommend you go in to see you primary physician for him/her to do an exam which should include listening to your lungs, checking your nose and throat, and getting a chest X-ray.
Persistent coughs are often from acid reflux (which can be "silent", i.e. without other symptoms). If the acid is refluxed high enough, it can cause irritation to the airways causing a cough.
It can also be from a past (or current) infection. So a complete blood count can be useful here too. Asthma can manifest as a cough but usually people also notice some resistance in their breathing. It is possible for a nervous tic to express as a cough.
Inflammatory processes such as from cigarette smoking can cause persistent coughing. If you are not a smoker, is it possible there is something in the air at work that is irritating you? Molds, chemicals, etc? Do you have this cough when you are in other environments?
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician
Thoughts on this
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Persistent coughs should be looked into so I recommend you go in to see you primary physician for him/her to do an exam which should include listening to your lungs, checking your nose and throat, and getting a chest X-ray.
Persistent coughs are often from acid reflux (which can be "silent", i.e. without other symptoms). If the acid is refluxed high enough, it can cause irritation to the airways causing a cough.
It can also be from a past (or current) infection. So a complete blood count can be useful here too. Asthma can manifest as a cough but usually people also notice some resistance in their breathing. It is possible for a nervous tic to express as a cough.
Inflammatory processes such as from cigarette smoking can cause persistent coughing. If you are not a smoker, is it possible there is something in the air at work that is irritating you? Molds, chemicals, etc? Do you have this cough when you are in other environments?
Hope I have answered your query.
Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
