🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 173 (from laksa072)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa173.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical, ml_categories_json AS ml_categories_json, ml_types_json AS ml_types_json, ml_intent_types_json AS ml_intent_types_json, meta_language AS meta_language, attrs_author AS attrs_author, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_publish_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(attrs_original_publish_time), 0) AS attrs_original_publish_time, ifNull(attrs_is_republished, 0) AS attrs_is_republished, ifNull(attrs_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_nr_words, ifNull(attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, 0) AS attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words, ifNull(body_ext_links_number, 0) AS body_ext_links_number, ifNull(body_int_links_number, 0) AS body_int_links_number, ifNull(meta_nofollow, 0) AS meta_nofollow, ifNull(meta_noarchive, 0) AS meta_noarchive, ifNull(props_was_rendered, 0) AS props_was_rendered, ifNull(src_redirect, \'\') AS src_redirect, ifNull(download_time_msec, 0) AS download_time_msec, ifNull(download_ttfb_msec, 0) AS download_ttfb_msec, ifNull(download_size, 0) AS download_size FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.pennmedicine.org/conditions/cough\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://www.pennmedicine.org/conditions/cough\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/conditions\/cough","crawl_time":1776908620,"first_indexed_time":1749487763,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"org,pennmedicine!www,\/conditions\/cough s443","src_root_hash":"11763615100892604773","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Cough","meta_descriptions":[],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Definition\nCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder.\nSome coughs are dry. Others are productive. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus. Mucus is also called phlegm or sputum.\nCoughs can be either acute or chronic:\nAcute coughs usually begin rapidly and are often due to a cold, flu, or sinus infection. They usually go away after 3 weeks.\nSubacute coughs last 3 to 8 weeks and often much sooner than that.\nChronic coughs last longer than 8 weeks.\nCauses\nCommon causes of coughing are:\nAllergies that involve the nose or sinuses\nAsthma and COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)\nThe common cold, flu, and other viral infections\nLung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis\nSinusitis with postnasal drip\nGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)\nOther causes include:\nACE inhibitors or less often ARB medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney diseases\nCigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke (or smoking other substances like marijuana)\nLung cancer\nLung disease such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease\nSometimes no specific cause is found\nWhen to Contact a Medical Professional\nCall 911 or the local emergency number if you have:\nShortness of breath or difficulty breathing\nHives or a swollen face or throat with difficulty swallowing\nContact your provider right away if you have a cough and any of the following:\nHeart disease, swelling in your legs, or a cough that gets worse when you lie down (may be signs of heart failure)\nHave had contact with someone who has tuberculosis\nUnintentional weight loss or night sweats (could be tuberculosis)\nAn infant younger than 3 months old who has a cough\nA cough that lasts longer than 10 to 14 days\nA cough that produces blood\nFever (may be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics)\nA high-pitched sound (called stridor) when breathing in\nThick, foul-smelling, yellowish-green phlegm (could be a bacterial infection)\nA violent cough that begins rapidly\nWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit\nYour provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked about your cough. Questions may include:\nWhen the cough began\nWhat it sounds like\nIf there is a pattern to it\nWhat makes it better or worse\nIf you have other symptoms, such as a fever\nYour provider will examine your ears, nose, throat, and chest.\nTests that may be done include:\nChest x-ray or CT scan\nLung function tests\nBlood tests\nTests to check the heart, such as an echocardiogram\nGastroesophageal reflux evaluation tests (for example barium swallow)\nSwabs of the nose or throat to check for a virus infection\nCT scan of the sinuses\nTreatment depends on the cause of the cough.\nReferences\nChung KF, Mazzone SB. Cough. In: Broaddus VC, King TE, Ernst JD, et al, eds.\nMurray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine\n. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 37.\nKraft M. Approach to the patient with respiratory disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds.\nGoldman-Cecil Medicine\n. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 71.\nVersion Info\nLast reviewed on: 4\/1\/2025\nFrank 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.","attrs_markdown":"[800-789-7366](tel:8007897366)\n\n[Patient login](https:\/\/secure.mypennmedicine.org\/MyPennMedicine\/)\n\n[![Penn Medicine Home](https:\/\/edge.sitecorecloud.io\/thetrusteesc483-pennmedicine-prod-fab7\/media\/Project\/PennMedicine\/Logos\/pm.svg?iar=0)](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/)\n\n- [Get care](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Get-care)\n- [Find a doctor](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Find-Doctor)\n- Specialties & services\n- Locations\n- For patients & visitors\n- Search\n\n# Cough\n[Find a doctor](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Find-Doctor\/Search?condition=79f21898-ec5a-4a61-ab82-cf65bb4becd9)\n\n[Call 800-789-7366](tel:\/\/+1-800-789-7366)\n\n## Definition\nCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder.\n\nSome coughs are dry. Others are productive. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus. Mucus is also called phlegm or sputum.\n\nCoughs can be either acute or chronic:\n\n- Acute coughs usually begin rapidly and are often due to a cold, flu, or sinus infection. They usually go away after 3 weeks.\n- Subacute coughs last 3 to 8 weeks and often much sooner than that.\n- Chronic coughs last longer than 8 weeks.\n\n## Causes\nCommon causes of coughing are:\n\n- Allergies that involve the nose or sinuses\n- Asthma and COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)\n- The common cold, flu, and other viral infections\n- Lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis\n- Sinusitis with postnasal drip\n- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)\n\nOther causes include:\n\n- ACE inhibitors or less often ARB medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney diseases\n- Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke (or smoking other substances like marijuana)\n- Lung cancer\n- Lung disease such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease\n- Sometimes no specific cause is found\n\n## When to Contact a Medical Professional\nCall 911 or the local emergency number if you have:\n\n- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing\n- Hives or a swollen face or throat with difficulty swallowing\n\nContact your provider right away if you have a cough and any of the following:\n\n- Heart disease, swelling in your legs, or a cough that gets worse when you lie down (may be signs of heart failure)\n- Have had contact with someone who has tuberculosis\n- Unintentional weight loss or night sweats (could be tuberculosis)\n- An infant younger than 3 months old who has a cough\n- A cough that lasts longer than 10 to 14 days\n- A cough that produces blood\n- Fever (may be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics)\n- A high-pitched sound (called stridor) when breathing in\n- Thick, foul-smelling, yellowish-green phlegm (could be a bacterial infection)\n- A violent cough that begins rapidly\n\n## What to Expect at Your Office Visit\nYour provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked about your cough. Questions may include:\n\n- When the cough began\n- What it sounds like\n- If there is a pattern to it\n- What makes it better or worse\n- If you have other symptoms, such as a fever\n\nYour provider will examine your ears, nose, throat, and chest.\n\nTests that may be done include:\n\n- Chest x-ray or CT scan\n- Lung function tests\n- Blood tests\n- Tests to check the heart, such as an echocardiogram\n- Gastroesophageal reflux evaluation tests (for example barium swallow)\n- Swabs of the nose or throat to check for a virus infection\n- CT scan of the sinuses\n\nTreatment depends on the cause of the cough.\n\n## References\nChung 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.\n\nKraft M. Approach to the patient with respiratory disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. *Goldman-Cecil Medicine*. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 71.\n\n## Version Info\nLast reviewed on: 4\/1\/2025\n\nFrank 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.\n\n### Schedule an appointment\nWe can help you schedule an appointment or you can search our directory of specialists.\n\n[Find a doctor](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Find-Doctor?condition=79f21898-ec5a-4a61-ab82-cf65bb4becd9)\n\n[Call 800-789-7366](tel:\/\/+1-800-789-7366)\n\n- Learn more about Penn Medicine\n  - - [About us](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/About)\n    - [Pioneering the future of medicine](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/About\/Pioneering-the-future-of-medicine)\n    - [Transforming patient care](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/About\/Transforming-patient-care)\n    - [Supporting our communities](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Supporting-our-communities)\n- For healthcare professionals\n  - - [Refer a patient](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Physician-resources\/Refer-patient)\n    - [PhysicianLink login](https:\/\/secure3.pennmedicine.org\/EpicLink\/common\/epic_login.asp)\n    - [Physician resources](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Physician-resources)\n- For international patients\n  - - [Global medicine](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Global-medicine)\n- Ways to help\n  - - [Giving](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Giving)\n    - [Volunteering](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Volunteering)\n    - [Organ donation](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Specialties\/Transplant\/Living-organ-donation)\n    - [Patient & family advisors](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Patient-resources\/Information-for-patients\/Patient-family-advisory-councils)\n- Research & innovations\n  - - [Research](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Research)\n    - [Office of Clinical Research](https:\/\/www.med.upenn.edu\/clinicalresearch)\n- For employees\n  - - [Employee resources](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Employee-resources)\n- News and events\n  - - [News & views](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/News)\n    - [News releases](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/News\/Search)\n    - [News media resources](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/News\/Media-resources)\n    - [Events](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Events)\n- Join us\n  - - [Careers](https:\/\/careers.pennmedicine.org\/)\n- For students & academics\n  - - [Academic departments](https:\/\/www3.pennmedicine.org\/departments-and-centers)\n    - [Fellowship & residency programs](https:\/\/www3.pennmedicine.org\/for-health-care-professionals\/fellowship-and-residency-programs\/)\n    - [Perelman School of Medicine](https:\/\/www.med.upenn.edu\/)\n\n- [Contact us](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Contact-us)\n- [HIPAA & privacy](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Hipaa-and-privacy)\n- [Terms of use](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Patient-resources\/Policies\/Terms-of-use)\n- [Legal disclaimer](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Patient-resources\/Policies\/Legal-disclaimer)\n- [Price transparency](https:\/\/www.pennmedicine.org\/Patient-resources\/Policies\/Pricing-transparency)\n\n- Penn Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 800-789-7366 © 2025, The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania","attrs_readable_markdown":"Definition\n\nCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder.\n\nSome coughs are dry. Others are productive. A productive cough is one that brings up mucus. Mucus is also called phlegm or sputum.\n\nCoughs can be either acute or chronic:\n\n- Acute coughs usually begin rapidly and are often due to a cold, flu, or sinus infection. They usually go away after 3 weeks.\n- Subacute coughs last 3 to 8 weeks and often much sooner than that.\n- Chronic coughs last longer than 8 weeks.\n\nCauses\n\nCommon causes of coughing are:\n\n- Allergies that involve the nose or sinuses\n- Asthma and COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis)\n- The common cold, flu, and other viral infections\n- Lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis\n- Sinusitis with postnasal drip\n- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)\n\nOther causes include:\n\n- ACE inhibitors or less often ARB medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney diseases\n- Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke (or smoking other substances like marijuana)\n- Lung cancer\n- Lung disease such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease\n- Sometimes no specific cause is found\n\nWhen to Contact a Medical Professional\n\nCall 911 or the local emergency number if you have:\n\n- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing\n- Hives or a swollen face or throat with difficulty swallowing\n\nContact your provider right away if you have a cough and any of the following:\n\n- Heart disease, swelling in your legs, or a cough that gets worse when you lie down (may be signs of heart failure)\n- Have had contact with someone who has tuberculosis\n- Unintentional weight loss or night sweats (could be tuberculosis)\n- An infant younger than 3 months old who has a cough\n- A cough that lasts longer than 10 to 14 days\n- A cough that produces blood\n- Fever (may be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics)\n- A high-pitched sound (called stridor) when breathing in\n- Thick, foul-smelling, yellowish-green phlegm (could be a bacterial infection)\n- A violent cough that begins rapidly\n\nWhat to Expect at Your Office Visit\n\nYour provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked about your cough. Questions may include:\n\n- When the cough began\n- What it sounds like\n- If there is a pattern to it\n- What makes it better or worse\n- If you have other symptoms, such as a fever\n\nYour provider will examine your ears, nose, throat, and chest.\n\nTests that may be done include:\n\n- Chest x-ray or CT scan\n- Lung function tests\n- Blood tests\n- Tests to check the heart, such as an echocardiogram\n- Gastroesophageal reflux evaluation tests (for example barium swallow)\n- Swabs of the nose or throat to check for a virus infection\n- CT scan of the sinuses\n\nTreatment depends on the cause of the cough.\n\nReferences\n\nChung 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.\n\nKraft M. Approach to the patient with respiratory disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. *Goldman-Cecil Medicine*. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 71.\n\nVersion Info\n\nLast reviewed on: 4\/1\/2025\n\nFrank 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.","meta_canonical":null,"ml_categories_json":"{\"\/Health\":996,\"\/Health\/Health_Conditions\":958,\"\/Health\/Health_Conditions\/Respiratory_Conditions\":934}","ml_types_json":"{\"\/Article\":794,\"\/Article\/Definitions\":546}","ml_intent_types_json":"{\"Informational\":998}","meta_language":"en","attrs_author":null,"attrs_publish_time":0,"attrs_original_publish_time":1749487763,"attrs_is_republished":0,"attrs_nr_words":"727","attrs_boilerpipe_nr_words":"569","body_ext_links_number":13,"body_int_links_number":59,"meta_nofollow":0,"meta_noarchive":0,"props_was_rendered":0,"src_redirect":"","download_time_msec":378,"download_ttfb_msec":290,"download_size":41146}

3. Robots.txt Check

Query:

Response:

4. Spam/Ban Check

Query:

Response:

5. Seen Status Check

ℹ️ Skipped - page is already crawled

📄

INDEXABLE

✅

CRAWLED

1 day ago

🤖

ROBOTS ALLOWED

Page Info Filters

Filter	Status	Condition	Details
HTTP status	PASS	`download_http_code = 200`	HTTP 200
Age cutoff	PASS	`download_stamp > now() - 6 MONTH`	0 months ago
History drop	PASS	`isNull(history_drop_reason)`	No drop reason
Spam/ban	PASS	`fh_dont_index != 1 AND ml_spam_score = 0`	ml_spam_score=0
Canonical	PASS	`meta_canonical IS NULL OR = '' OR = src_unparsed`	Not set

Page Details

Property

Value

URL

https://www.pennmedicine.org/conditions/cough

Last Crawled

2026-04-23 01:43:40 (1 day ago)

First Indexed

2025-06-09 16:49:23 (10 months ago)

HTTP Status Code

200

Content

Meta Title

Cough

Meta Description

null

Meta Canonical

null

Boilerpipe Text

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 and often much sooner than that. Chronic coughs last longer than 8 weeks. Causes Common causes of coughing are: Allergies that involve the nose or sinuses Asthma and COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis) The common cold, flu, and other viral infections Lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis Sinusitis with postnasal drip Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Other causes include: ACE inhibitors or less often ARB medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney diseases Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke (or smoking other substances like marijuana) Lung cancer Lung disease such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease Sometimes no specific cause is found When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or the local emergency number if you have: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Hives 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) 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 (may be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics) A high-pitched sound (called stridor) 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 Your 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 Your provider will examine your ears, nose, throat, and chest. Tests that may be done include: Chest x-ray or CT scan Lung function tests Blood tests Tests to check the heart, such as an echocardiogram Gastroesophageal reflux evaluation tests (for example barium swallow) Swabs of the nose or throat to check for a virus infection CT scan of the sinuses Treatment depends on the cause of the cough. 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, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine . 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 71. Version Info Last reviewed on: 4/1/2025 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.

Markdown

[800-789-7366](tel:8007897366) [Patient login](https://secure.mypennmedicine.org/MyPennMedicine/) [![Penn Medicine Home](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/thetrusteesc483-pennmedicine-prod-fab7/media/Project/PennMedicine/Logos/pm.svg?iar=0)](https://www.pennmedicine.org/) - [Get care](https://www.pennmedicine.org/Get-care) - [Find a doctor](https://www.pennmedicine.org/Find-Doctor) - Specialties & services - Locations - For patients & visitors - Search # Cough [Find a doctor](https://www.pennmedicine.org/Find-Doctor/Search?condition=79f21898-ec5a-4a61-ab82-cf65bb4becd9) [Call 800-789-7366](tel://+1-800-789-7366) ## 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 and often much sooner than that. - Chronic coughs last longer than 8 weeks. ## Causes Common causes of coughing are: - Allergies that involve the nose or sinuses - Asthma and COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis) - The common cold, flu, and other viral infections - Lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis - Sinusitis with postnasal drip - Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Other causes include: - ACE inhibitors or less often ARB medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney diseases - Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke (or smoking other substances like marijuana) - Lung cancer - Lung disease such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease - Sometimes no specific cause is found ## When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or the local emergency number if you have: - Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - Hives 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) - 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 (may be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics) - A high-pitched sound (called stridor) 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 Your 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 Your provider will examine your ears, nose, throat, and chest. Tests that may be done include: - Chest x-ray or CT scan - Lung function tests - Blood tests - Tests to check the heart, such as an echocardiogram - Gastroesophageal reflux evaluation tests (for example barium swallow) - Swabs of the nose or throat to check for a virus infection - CT scan of the sinuses Treatment depends on the cause of the cough. ## 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, Cooney KA, eds. *Goldman-Cecil Medicine*. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 71. ## Version Info Last reviewed on: 4/1/2025 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. ### Schedule an appointment We can help you schedule an appointment or you can search our directory of specialists. 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Readable Markdown

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 and often much sooner than that. - Chronic coughs last longer than 8 weeks. Causes Common causes of coughing are: - Allergies that involve the nose or sinuses - Asthma and COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis) - The common cold, flu, and other viral infections - Lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis - Sinusitis with postnasal drip - Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Other causes include: - ACE inhibitors or less often ARB medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney diseases - Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke (or smoking other substances like marijuana) - Lung cancer - Lung disease such as bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis, or interstitial lung disease - Sometimes no specific cause is found When to Contact a Medical Professional Call 911 or the local emergency number if you have: - Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing - Hives 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) - 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 (may be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics) - A high-pitched sound (called stridor) 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 Your 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 Your provider will examine your ears, nose, throat, and chest. Tests that may be done include: - Chest x-ray or CT scan - Lung function tests - Blood tests - Tests to check the heart, such as an echocardiogram - Gastroesophageal reflux evaluation tests (for example barium swallow) - Swabs of the nose or throat to check for a virus infection - CT scan of the sinuses Treatment depends on the cause of the cough. 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, Cooney KA, eds. *Goldman-Cecil Medicine*. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 71. Version Info Last reviewed on: 4/1/2025 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.

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