It's Just a Cough … Or Is It?

You've had a nagging cough for the past few weeks that won't seem to go away. You perpetually tell yourself, "It's just a cough. It'll be gone soon." But if that cough has stuck around for more than three weeks, it could be a sign of something more serious, ranging from allergies and asthma to chronic bronchitis.

"Many people let a persistent cough go untreated for too long," said Henry Milgrom, MD, a National Jewish allergist who specializes in diagnosing and treating chronic coughs. "If a cough doesn't go away you should see a doctor to learn if it is symptomatic of something more serious and treatable."

Doctors define cough in three stages: acute, sub-acute, and chronic, which are defined primarily by how long they have persisted.

An acute cough lasts less than three weeks. There is little need to see a doctor if you otherwise feel okay. "However, if fever, discomfort or generalized malaise accompanies your cough or if your cough is keeping you awake at night, by all means see a doctor," said Milgrom.

A cough that persists for more than three weeks may be a sign of something more serious. A sub-acute cough, lasting three to eight weeks, can be characteristic in sinusitis, viral or bacterial infections, allergies, and mild asthma. A chronic cough, lasting longer than six weeks, can be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux, chronic bronchitis, undiagnosed asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

"Chronic bronchitis and COPD are frequently accompanied by mucus whereas some other illnesses associated with chronic cough are not," says Milgrom.

So, if your nagging cough has lasted for more than three weeks, or if you've been neglecting other symptoms it's probably time to see a doctor.