This article will explore the most common causes of cough and what treatment might help.

Your body knows what to do once an irritant activates sensors that trigger the cough.

A healthcare provider needs to determine the underlying cause of a cough to ensure aproper diagnosis and effective treatment.

Person sitting on a sofa covered in a blanket, coughing into their elbow while looking at their phone.

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Infections

Viral and bacterial infections impacting therespiratory tractcan cause a cough.

Breathing in smoke from a fire is short-term but also dangerous.

Can Medication Cause My Cough?

A healthcare provider may ask you how long you’ve had your cough.

Types of Coughing

There are various causes of coughing when you’re not sick.

Various over-the-counter (OTC) medications are available totreat acute coughingin adults.

These medications dry up mucus or block the receptors that cause the urge to cough.

Flare-ups usually increase symptoms like coughing and can lead to disease progression.

Summary

A cough can develop for various reasons.

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