Persistent Cough Causes 

Causes of persistent coughing Persistent cough causes aren't always easy to diagnose. In fact, a persistent cough is often the result of multiple causes. In about one third of cases in a recent study, two or more persistent cough causes were present in test subjects who complained of the problem.

Doctors usually consider any cough that lasts three weeks or more to be a persistent cough, although sometimes a cough should continue for about two months before being considered chronic. See our article "What Is A Chronic Cough?"

Here are the most common causes of a persistent cough.

• postnasal drip,
• asthma,
• acid reflux,
• chronic bronchitis,
• cigarette smoking,
• post-nasal drip,
• post-viral respiratory tract infections.

Infections may also trigger a persistent cough.

The medications known as ACE inhibitors (ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme), which are used to control blood pressure, have been known to cause a persistent dry cough. 

A persistent cough can be a problem because it can keep awake at night, cause incontinence, soreness in the chest and throat, and prove distracting in social or business situations. When you are unable to stop coughing, you may frighten friends who think you have a contagious illness, cold or the flu.

A persistent cough can also be a symptom of a more serious health problem.