When you have a cough workup, a systematic medical process to identify the root cause of a persistent or troubling cough. Also known as respiratory evaluation, it’s not just about listening to your lungs—it’s about connecting symptoms, history, and tests to find what’s really going on. Most people think a cough is just a cold that won’t quit, but if it lasts more than 8 weeks, it’s not normal. A cough workup helps rule out things like asthma, acid reflux, postnasal drip, or even early signs of lung disease.
Doctors don’t guess—they follow a path. First, they ask how long you’ve been coughing. An acute cough, one that lasts less than 3 weeks. Also known as short-term cough, it’s often from a virus and clears on its own. But if it’s been months? That’s a chronic cough, a cough lasting more than 8 weeks in adults. Also known as long-term cough, it’s the kind that keeps you up at night and makes you tired of answering "Are you okay?". That’s when the real workup starts. They’ll check for silent reflux, check your meds (some blood pressure drugs cause coughing), and may order a chest X-ray or breathing test. Sometimes, it’s allergies or environmental irritants—like dust or smoke—that no one told you to watch for.
What you might not realize is that a cough can be the only sign of something serious. People with early lung cancer or heart failure often don’t have chest pain or shortness of breath—they just can’t stop coughing. That’s why skipping a workup because "it’s probably nothing" can be risky. The good news? Most causes are treatable. If it’s postnasal drip, nasal sprays help. If it’s GERD, diet changes and acid blockers make a difference. If it’s asthma, inhalers can turn your life around. You don’t need to live with a cough that won’t go away.
The posts below cover real-world cases and practical advice you won’t find in a textbook. You’ll learn how medications can trigger coughs, why some people get worse on generics, how to spot when a cough is more than a cold, and what to do if your doctor brushes it off. Whether you’ve been coughing for weeks or just want to know when to push for answers, these articles give you the tools to understand your body—and talk smarter with your provider.
Chronic cough lasting over 8 weeks is most often caused by GERD, asthma, or postnasal drip. Learn the step-by-step diagnostic approach backed by current guidelines to find the real cause and get relief.
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