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[Skip to main content](https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/cough#maincontent) [(352) 733-0111](tel:+13527330111) [MyUFHealth](https://mychart.shands.org/mychartprd/Authentication/Login) [UF Health Home](https://ufhealth.org/) Search Close Menu - [Find a Doctor](https://ufhealth.org/doctors) - [Conditions & Treatments](https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments) - [Locations](https://ufhealth.org/locations) - [Patients & Visitors](https://ufhealth.org/patients-and-visitors) - [Clinical Trials](https://ufhealth.org/clinical-trials) - [Community](https://ufhealth.org/community) - [Billing](https://ufhealth.org/billing-insurance-and-costs) - [Insurance](https://ufhealth.org/billing-insurance-and-costs/insurance) - [Events](https://ufhealth.org/events) - [Make a gift](https://ufhealth.org/giving) - [Careers](https://careers.ufhealth.org/) - [Volunteer](https://ufhealth.org/volunteering) - [Education](https://ufhealth.org/education) - [Research](https://ufhealth.org/research) - [About](https://ufhealth.org/about-uf-health) [(352) 733-0111](tel:+13527330111) [MyUFHealth](https://mychart.shands.org/mychartprd/Authentication/Login) Close [Conditions and Treatments](https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments) # Cough ## Cough Menu Open Menu Cough Menu Close ## Cough Menu Collapse Cough Menu - [Overview](https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/cough) - [Doctors](https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/cough/doctors) - [Locations](https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/cough/locations) - [Stories and news](https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/cough/stories) ## On this page Collapse navigation ## Definition Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are dry. Others are productive. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus. Mucus is also called phlegm or sputum. Coughs can be either acute or chronic: - Acute coughs usually begin rapidly and are often due to a cold, flu, or sinus infection. They usually go away after 3 weeks. - Subacute coughs last 3 to 8 weeks. - Chronic coughs last longer than 8 weeks. ## Causes Common causes of coughing are: - [Allergies](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000812) that involve the nose or sinuses - [Asthma](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000141) and [COPD](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000091) (emphysema or chronic bronchitis) - The [common cold](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000678), [flu](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000080), and other viral infections - Lung infections such as [pneumonia](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000145) or acute bronchitis - [Sinusitis](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000647) with postnasal drip - [Gastroesophageal reflux disease](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000265) (GERD) Other causes include: - [ACE inhibitors](https://ufhealth.org/adam/60/000087) or less often ARB medicines used to treat [high blood pressure](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000468), heart failure, or [kidney diseases](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000471) - Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke (or smoking other substances like marijuana) - [Lung cancer](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/007270) - Lung disease such as [bronchiectasis](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000144), [cystic fibrosis](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000107), or [interstitial lung disease](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000128) - Sometimes no specific cause is found ## Home Care If you have asthma or another chronic lung disease, make sure you are taking medicines prescribed by your health care provider. Here are some tips to help ease your cough: - If you have a dry, tickling cough, try cough drops or hard candy. Never give these to a child under age 3, because they can cause choking. - Use a vaporizer or take a steamy shower to increase moisture in the air to help soothe a dry throat. If you use a humidifier, make sure it is properly cleaned and maintained. - Drink plenty of fluids. Liquids help thin the mucus in your throat making it easier to cough it up. - Do not smoke, and stay away from secondhand smoke. Medicines you can buy on your own include: - Guaifenesin helps break up mucus. Follow package instructions on how much to take. Do not take more than the recommended amount. Drink lots of fluids if you take this medicine. - Decongestants help clear a runny nose and relieve postnasal drip. Check with your provider before taking decongestants if you have high blood pressure. - Talk to your child's provider before you give children ages 6 years or younger an over-the-counter cough medicine, even if it is labeled for children. These medicines likely do not work for children, and can have serious side effects. If you have seasonal allergies, such as hay fever: - Stay indoors during days or times of the day (usually the morning) when airborne allergens are high. - Keep windows closed and use an air conditioner. - Do not use fans that draw in air from outdoors. - Shower and change your clothes after being outside. If you have allergies year-round, cover your pillows and mattress with dust mite covers, use an air purifier, and avoid pets with fur and other triggers. Treat the underlying cause (per above) as directed by your provider. ## When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or the local emergency number if you have: - Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - [Hives](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000845) or a swollen face or throat with difficulty swallowing Contact your provider right away if you have a cough and any of the following: - Heart disease, swelling in your legs, or a cough that gets worse when you lie down (may be signs of [heart failure](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000158)) - Have had contact with someone who has tuberculosis - Unintentional weight loss or night sweats (could be tuberculosis) - An infant younger than 3 months old who has a cough - A cough that lasts longer than 10 to 14 days - A cough that produces blood - [Fever](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003090) (may be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics) - A high-pitched sound (called [stridor](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003074)) when breathing in - Thick, foul-smelling, yellowish-green phlegm (could be a bacterial infection) - A violent cough that begins rapidly ## What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked about your cough. Questions may include: - When the cough began - What it sounds like - If there is a pattern to it - What makes it better or worse - If you have other symptoms, such as a fever The provider will examine your ears, nose, throat, and chest. Tests that may be done include: - Chest [x-ray](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003804) or [CT scan](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003788) - [Lung function tests](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003853) - Blood tests - Tests to check the heart, such as an [echocardiogram](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003869) - Gastroesophageal reflux evaluation tests (for example barium swallow) - Vial swabs - CT scan of the sinuses Treatment depends on the cause of the cough. ## Gallery [ The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.](https://ufhealth.org/assets/adam/1103.jpg) ## References Chung KF, Mazzone SB. Cough. In: Broaddus VC, King TE, Ernst JD, et al, eds. *Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine*. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 37. Kraft M. Approach to the patient with respiratory disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. *Goldman-Cecil Medicine*. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 77. Last reviewed April 1, 2025 by Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.. ## Related specialties - [Family Medicine](https://ufhealth.org/specialties/family-medicine) - [Pediatrics](https://ufhealth.org/specialties/pediatrics) - [Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine](https://ufhealth.org/specialties/pulmonary-critical-care-medicine) ## Aftercare and more - [Colds and the Flu - What to Ask Your Doctor - Adult](https://ufhealth.org/care-sheets/colds-and-the-flu-what-to-ask-your-doctor-adult) - [Colds and the Flu - What to Ask Your Doctor - Child](https://ufhealth.org/care-sheets/colds-and-the-flu-what-to-ask-your-doctor-child) - [When Your Baby or Infant Has a Fever](https://ufhealth.org/care-sheets/when-your-baby-or-infant-has-a-fever) ## Our locations ## Our experts Independent doctors are not employed by UF Health, but may provide medical care at one of our locations. ## News and patient stories: Cough # [Florida’s red tide events tied to illness](https://ufhealth.org/news/2025/floridas-red-tide-events-tied-to-illness) November 4, 2025 GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s hospitals can expect an uptick in patients during red tide events, a new University of Florida Health study has found. The… Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, +2 more  # [Study calls for universal vaccination for pregnant women, children against RSV](https://ufhealth.org/news/2025/study-calls-for-universal-vaccination-for-pregnant-women-children-against-rsv) October 8, 2025 GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A team of researchers led by a University of Florida Health scientist recommends the universal immunization of pregnant women and infants… College of Pharmacy, +1 more  [More Cough stories](https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/cough/stories) ## Latest podcast episodes # [Whooping cough cases on the rise](https://podcasts.ufhealth.org/whooping-cough-cases-on-the-rise/) Wash your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes, and don’t share drinking cups and other utensils. Those are several simple tips for your young child as they go to school and enjoy time on... # [Not all coughs are linked to COVID-19](https://podcasts.ufhealth.org/not-all-coughs-are-linked-to-covid-19/) Many of us have been there during the pandemic. You’re masked up for a quick trip to the grocery store. You’re not sick, but suddenly a tickle in the nose grows until here comes that dreaded... # [Couch potatoes have lower sperm count](https://podcasts.ufhealth.org/couch-potatoes-have-lower-sperm-count/) There’s nothing attractive about a couch potato. It’s one thing to have some down time enjoying a favorite sitcom, but staying sedentary for hours on end, eyes peeled on a TV screen, is not only... 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## Definition Coughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are dry. Others are productive. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus. Mucus is also called phlegm or sputum. Coughs can be either acute or chronic: - Acute coughs usually begin rapidly and are often due to a cold, flu, or sinus infection. They usually go away after 3 weeks. - Subacute coughs last 3 to 8 weeks. - Chronic coughs last longer than 8 weeks. ## Causes Common causes of coughing are: - [Allergies](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000812) that involve the nose or sinuses - [Asthma](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000141) and [COPD](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000091) (emphysema or chronic bronchitis) - The [common cold](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000678), [flu](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000080), and other viral infections - Lung infections such as [pneumonia](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000145) or acute bronchitis - [Sinusitis](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000647) with postnasal drip - [Gastroesophageal reflux disease](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000265) (GERD) Other causes include: - [ACE inhibitors](https://ufhealth.org/adam/60/000087) or less often ARB medicines used to treat [high blood pressure](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000468), heart failure, or [kidney diseases](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000471) - Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke (or smoking other substances like marijuana) - [Lung cancer](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/007270) - Lung disease such as [bronchiectasis](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000144), [cystic fibrosis](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000107), or [interstitial lung disease](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000128) - Sometimes no specific cause is found ## Home Care If you have asthma or another chronic lung disease, make sure you are taking medicines prescribed by your health care provider. Here are some tips to help ease your cough: - If you have a dry, tickling cough, try cough drops or hard candy. Never give these to a child under age 3, because they can cause choking. - Use a vaporizer or take a steamy shower to increase moisture in the air to help soothe a dry throat. If you use a humidifier, make sure it is properly cleaned and maintained. - Drink plenty of fluids. Liquids help thin the mucus in your throat making it easier to cough it up. - Do not smoke, and stay away from secondhand smoke. Medicines you can buy on your own include: - Guaifenesin helps break up mucus. Follow package instructions on how much to take. Do not take more than the recommended amount. Drink lots of fluids if you take this medicine. - Decongestants help clear a runny nose and relieve postnasal drip. Check with your provider before taking decongestants if you have high blood pressure. - Talk to your child's provider before you give children ages 6 years or younger an over-the-counter cough medicine, even if it is labeled for children. These medicines likely do not work for children, and can have serious side effects. If you have seasonal allergies, such as hay fever: - Stay indoors during days or times of the day (usually the morning) when airborne allergens are high. - Keep windows closed and use an air conditioner. - Do not use fans that draw in air from outdoors. - Shower and change your clothes after being outside. If you have allergies year-round, cover your pillows and mattress with dust mite covers, use an air purifier, and avoid pets with fur and other triggers. Treat the underlying cause (per above) as directed by your provider. ## When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or the local emergency number if you have: - Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - [Hives](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000845) or a swollen face or throat with difficulty swallowing Contact your provider right away if you have a cough and any of the following: - Heart disease, swelling in your legs, or a cough that gets worse when you lie down (may be signs of [heart failure](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/000158)) - Have had contact with someone who has tuberculosis - Unintentional weight loss or night sweats (could be tuberculosis) - An infant younger than 3 months old who has a cough - A cough that lasts longer than 10 to 14 days - A cough that produces blood - [Fever](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003090) (may be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics) - A high-pitched sound (called [stridor](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003074)) when breathing in - Thick, foul-smelling, yellowish-green phlegm (could be a bacterial infection) - A violent cough that begins rapidly ## What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked about your cough. Questions may include: - When the cough began - What it sounds like - If there is a pattern to it - What makes it better or worse - If you have other symptoms, such as a fever The provider will examine your ears, nose, throat, and chest. Tests that may be done include: - Chest [x-ray](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003804) or [CT scan](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003788) - [Lung function tests](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003853) - Blood tests - Tests to check the heart, such as an [echocardiogram](https://ufhealth.org/adam/1/003869) - Gastroesophageal reflux evaluation tests (for example barium swallow) - Vial swabs - CT scan of the sinuses Treatment depends on the cause of the cough. ## Gallery [ The major features of the lungs include the bronchi, the bronchioles and the alveoli. The alveoli are the microscopic blood vessel-lined sacks in which oxygen and carbon dioxide gas are exchanged.](https://ufhealth.org/assets/adam/1103.jpg) ## References Chung KF, Mazzone SB. Cough. In: Broaddus VC, King TE, Ernst JD, et al, eds. *Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine*. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 37. Kraft M. Approach to the patient with respiratory disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. *Goldman-Cecil Medicine*. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 77. Last reviewed April 1, 2025 by Frank D. Brodkey, MD, FCCM, Associate Professor, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.. ## Related specialties ## Aftercare and more ## Our locations ## Our experts Independent doctors are not employed by UF Health, but may provide medical care at one of our locations. ## News and patient stories: Cough ## [Florida’s red tide events tied to illness](https://ufhealth.org/news/2025/floridas-red-tide-events-tied-to-illness) November 4, 2025 GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida’s hospitals can expect an uptick in patients during red tide events, a new University of Florida Health study has found. The… Department of Health Outcomes & Biomedical Informatics, +2 more   [More Cough stories](https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/cough/stories) ## Latest podcast episodes ## [Whooping cough cases on the rise](https://podcasts.ufhealth.org/whooping-cough-cases-on-the-rise/) Wash your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes, and don’t share drinking cups and other utensils. Those are several simple tips for your young child as they go to school and enjoy time on... ## [Not all coughs are linked to COVID-19](https://podcasts.ufhealth.org/not-all-coughs-are-linked-to-covid-19/) Many of us have been there during the pandemic. You’re masked up for a quick trip to the grocery store. You’re not sick, but suddenly a tickle in the nose grows until here comes that dreaded... ## [Couch potatoes have lower sperm count](https://podcasts.ufhealth.org/couch-potatoes-have-lower-sperm-count/) There’s nothing attractive about a couch potato. It’s one thing to have some down time enjoying a favorite sitcom, but staying sedentary for hours on end, eyes peeled on a TV screen, is not only... [Listen to more Health in a Heartbeat episodes](https://podcasts.ufhealth.org/category/health-in-a-heartbeat/)