If you suffer from a persistent and severe cough, you are not alone. With respiratory illnesses surging across the country right now, it’s no wonder so many people are hacking away for weeks on end, wondering what that nagging cough means.
Dr. Tara Narula, NBC News medical contributor and cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital and Northwell Health, says this is now the second year in a row that COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are all circulating at the same time. said. May 2024 Today Segment.
“That means you’re more likely to get some sort of illness,” she explained. “And things are more likely to happen in rapid succession, meaning you’re more likely to get one disease and then get another.”
Narula said low uptake of the latest COVID-19 and influenza vaccines puts people at greater risk of falling ill. “Only about 42% of adults have received the influenza vaccine and 18% have received the latest coronavirus vaccine,” she said.
There are also bacterial infections that cause persistent coughs, such as pneumonia, strep throat, and whooping cough.
“So there are a lot of things going on at the same time,” Narula said, noting that all of these factors can make persistent coughs more common.
Here’s what different types of cough mean:
A persistent cough may be worrying, but it can be a normal symptom of many illnesses and conditions.
“People forget that coughs last a long time,” Narula explains. “Once you have an infection, the cough can last for several weeks.”
If you have a cough, it may mean the following, depending on how long the cough has been going on:
acute cough
Narula said acute cough is the shortest-lasting type on the list, but it can still last up to three weeks. These coughs are often caused by other viral illnesses, such as colds, flu, or flu. Mayo Clinic says.
subacute cough
A cough that lasts between three and eight weeks is classified as subacute cough, Narula explained. These begin as a typical post-infectious cough but last for a long time.
chronic cough
A cough that lasts more than eight weeks is considered chronic, Narula said. Chronic cough can be related to infections, but it can also be caused by certain health conditions, such as asthma, acid reflux, and postnasal drip. Some medications, such as common blood pressure medications, can also cause chronic cough.
Dr. Narula says if your cough has lasted for more than eight weeks, you may need a chest x-ray to determine the cause, which can help your doctor find the appropriate treatment. . Your doctor may also ask about your travel history and history of vaping or smoking.
She explained that it’s important to seek medical attention because a prolonged cough can be a sign of a serious illness or condition. If your cough persists along with any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical attention:
- heat
- weight loss
- night sweats
- Hemoptysis or thick green sputum
- shortness of breath
“Even a regular, chronic cough can be accompanied by headaches, difficulty sleeping (and) fatigue,” Narula says. “For an older woman, she could break her ribs with the force of her cough.”
Unfortunately, coughs are common during respiratory disease season. And illness-related coughs almost always subside on their own as you recover. However, if the cough persists, especially if it lasts for more than 8 weeks, you should take it seriously and seek medical attention.