Have you been coughing for many weeks?
People often develop a cough due to cold, however, it usually clears up within 3 weeks. Unfortunately, some people may experience a lingering cough that could have been caused by multiple factors. A lingering or chronic cough lasts eight weeks or longer in adults, or four weeks in children.
Natural remedies like drinking tea with honey or over the counter medications may help relieve your cough, depending on the root cause. Here are some possible reasons behind your chronic cough. Make sure you see your doctor in case your cough doesn't go away in time.
Lingering from past infections
Even after your cold or flu is gone, cough may take longer to run its course. Coughing is your body's way to clear out your lungs for the purpose of healing. COVID-19 infection can also lead to lung inflammation and dry cough. It is best to consult your doctor for treatment options in case the coughing doesn't stop.
Smoking
The chemicals and particles in tobacco smoke can irritate your throat, resulting in chronic cough. It can also worsen symptoms of other issues that cause coughing, such as asthma and respiratory infections.
Smoker’s cough can be one of the early signs of health problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Make sure you are not getting exposed to secondhand smoke as it can also lead to coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
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Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by viruses, fungi, or bacteria. It can lead to a dry cough or one with green, yellow, or bloody mucus. Along with cough, other possible symptoms of pneumonia include fever, sweating, and shortness of breath.
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is a serious infectious disease that mainly affects your lungs. Coughing for three or more weeks can be a warning sign of tuberculosis. Coughing up blood or mucus could also be caused by TB. However, it can also be a dry cough. Other symptoms of TB include chest pain, unintentional weight loss, fatigue, fever, night sweats, chills and loss of appetite. Apart from lungs, tuberculosis can also affect other parts of your body like kidneys, spine or brain.
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Lung cancer
Lung cancer can lead to coughing that doesn’t go away or gets even worse over time. Apart from coughing, lung cancer patients may also experience chest pain, wheezing, shortness of breath, or unintentional weight loss. Some people may not experience any symptoms at all, until the cancer is advanced. However, it is important not to jump to diagnosis without consulting your doctor first.
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