Why your cough won't go away even though you're better

It’s annoying, but is it cause for concern?

Still suffering from an irritating cough weeks after recovering from a cold or flu? We investigated why your cough won't go away even after you're better.

Feeling gross and annoyed with every post-illness cough that escapes your lungs? 

You’re not alone. 

It sucks to be the person coughing in the office, on the train and around home when you’re not even sick anymore. Your body can feel like it’s betraying you, straining your stomach muscles, scratching your throat and squeezing your chest after having already done that for the duration of your infection. 

The reflex is annoying enough when you’re actually sick, but way worse when you’re well again. So why won’t your cough go away?

Why won’t your cough go away? 

According to an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, 11 to 25 per cent of adults are affected by coughs after an infection.

Otolaryngologist and laryngologist, Omid Mehdizadeh told Healthline, “A post-viral cough is typically due to increased inflammation of the respiratory system, including the nose, throat, voice box, and lungs”.

Excess mucus after being sick can also be irritating. 

We cough to keep irritants out of our lungs, ward off infection and prevent choking. Image: Pexels

We cough to keep irritants out of our lungs, ward off infection and prevent choking. 

A dry cough, like the one likely hanging around a week or two after your last cold, is a result of the receptors becoming overly sensitive in our throats, oesophagus and airways.

If you can’t shake the urge to loudly expel air, it’s likely a result of one of these three issues: 

Image: iStock

Post-nasal drip

A regular occurrence for hayfever sufferers, a post-nasal drip is caused by mucus running down the back of the throat, eventually irritating the throat and triggering inflammation.

Acid reflux

In addition to intense pain and a burning feeling, acid travelling up the esophagus can irritate our throats, making them more sensitive and triggering the cough reflex.

Image: iStock

Asthma

Infections can exacerbate symptoms of asthma, triggering wheezing or coughing even after your body has cleared the sickness.

When is a cough considered chronic?

Some viruses, such as RSV, can cause a lingering cough for weeks after infection, but if you’re an adult coughing for longer than two months, your cough can be considered chronic. 

"After eight weeks, that's something called chronic cough and that's what needs an additional workup, including imaging and sputum testing and just trying to figure out exactly what could be the cause," emergency medicine physician Dr Darien Sutton told ABC News.

Warm drinks, teas, broths,and soups help reduce irritation and break up mucus. Image: iStock

What actually helps to treat a dry cough?

Aside from trusty lozenges, humidifiers and over-the-counter cough suppressants have been recommended as ways to soothe your irritated throat.

Warm drinks, teas, broths, and soups help reduce irritation and break up mucus. 

Honey is antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory, and works by coating your throat to reduce irritation and pain.

If you’re concerned your post-illness cough could be a secondary infection or something more sinister, speak to a GP to figure out the cause and appropriate treatment. 

Originally published as Why your cough won't go away even though you're better