Sometimes, people will come in complaining of a nagging cough that just won’t quit.  They have been suffering with it for months.  They might have already seen the doctor and have already been through a course or two of antibiotics.  The cough isn’t severe enough to keep them in bed or at home but is just enough to bother them or at least their friends, family, and colleagues.

1. So you are seeing the doctor and you want to be rid of this cough.  As always, the doctor will be gathering some additional information from you in order to narrow down the diagnosis.  Be patient and just supply the information asked of you, even if you don’t think it has anything to do with your cough.  The doctor is usually going to assess for other risk factors which might bring up a red flag.
2. The doctor is probably thinking about the 3 most common causes of a chronic cough.  They are: the post-nasal drip probably from allergies, asthma that isn’t well controlled, or gastric reflux.  If these causes can be ruled out, then the doctor will likely be looking for other causes and possibly sending you for further tests.
3. It’s usually simple if your cough is caused by one of the 3 above.  The doctor can treat the allergies, asthma, and reflux.  It will take a little time to completely resolve but it should get better.
4. If you are asked by the doctor to get other tests done such as a chest x-ray or blood work, do not blow this off.  You should follow through with the testing and also follow up with the doctor on the results.  Although the most common causes of the chronic cough are benign, it can be related to a more serious condition.  Talk to your doctor about your concerns.

If you are interested in getting cough medicine, you should also discuss with the doctor what is appropriate for you and how long you can safely take those medications.

Tags: Allergy, asthma, Cough, Gastroesophageal reflux disease, Post-nasal drip