Coughing is one of the most common symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, which are quite common during the winter season. However, if the cough persists for more than 8 weeks, it should not be ignored, even though it is often considered to be caused by illnesses such as the flu and therefore not taken seriously.

Saying that a prolonged cough could be a sign of a serious illness and could also lead to significant complications over time, Dr. Mustafa Faysal Baysal, a chest disease specialist at Medline Adana Hospital, explained 10 important factors that could underlie a persistent cough.

Asthma

Chronic cough is one of the most prominent symptoms of asthma. It may be accompanied by wheezing, shortness of breath, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. The cough is usually dry, tickly, and tends to worsen at night. In allergic asthma, coughing may increase in the early morning and wheezing may occur with exertion. 

COPD
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) is a significant disease characterised by chronic and progressive shortness of breath. In these patients, the cough is usually long-lasting and often productive. Shortness of breath and a feeling of tightness in the chest may also accompany the cough.

Reflux

Reflux can cause coughing by irritating the oesophagus when stomach acid escapes into it. Coughing that increases after coffee, spicy and fatty foods, occurs in episodes at night and lasts for a long time may be a sign of reflux. Burning sensation in the chest is also common.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is also among the common causes of coughing. Chronic bronchitis can cause a pattern of coughing with phlegm lasting more than two years and occurring for at least three months of the year.

Heart failure

Coughing can sometimes be an important symptom of heart failure. Coughing that worsens when lying down and improves when sitting or standing is particularly noteworthy. Some patients may have pink-coloured phlegm.

Certain hypertension medications

Some blood pressure medications known as ACE inhibitors can cause a dry cough. This cough may appear a few hours after treatment begins, or it may occur weeks or months later. In such cases, the medication can be changed under a doctor's supervision.

Smoking

Smoking irritates the respiratory tract and causes chronic coughing. Smokers may experience coughing, especially in the morning, accompanied by dark-coloured phlegm. Ignoring coughing linked to smoking can lead to a delayed diagnosis of diseases such as COPD.

Sinusitis

Inflammation of the sinuses is one of the major causes of chronic cough. It usually develops due to postnasal drip and manifests as a dry cough. Studies indicate that sinusitis is detected in one out of every three patients with chronic cough.

Lung and throat cancer

Sometimes lung tumours can cause coughing, depending on their location. Newly developed coughing, changes in the nature of coughing, or the presence of bloody phlegm, particularly in heavy smokers, may be indicative of lung cancer. If hoarseness accompanies the cough, it should also be evaluated for throat cancer.

Various lung diseases

At the onset of pneumonia, the cough may be dry and intermittent, accompanied by phlegm and chest pain as the disease progresses. In tuberculosis, bloody phlegm may be seen along with coughing. In addition, diseases such as sarcoidosis, non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, interstitial lung disease, psychogenic cough, and pulmonary embolism can also cause chronic cough.