A cough that persists for eight or more weeks is known as a chronic cough, and it can occur along with a variety of other symptoms like shortness of breath or a runny nose. Chronic cough often. Overview of Chronic Cough. One survey of internists indicated that a cough is the third most common reason for visiting the doctor's office. Cough can be acute or chronic. Cough is a rapid expulsion of air from the lungs typically in order to clear the lung airways of fluids, mucus, or material. Cough is also called tussis. Chronic cough — Comprehensive overview covers causes, diagnosis and treatment of this frustrating condition. Te e nglan ourna o edicine 1544 n engl j med 375;16 nejm.orgOctober 20, 2016 Clinical Practice A 63-year-old woman presents with a 1-year history of a chronic dry cough, associ- You've been coughing for weeks. How do you know if it's just a hard-to-shake cold or something more serious? A chronic cough, defined as lasting more than eight weeks, is not uncommon. Chronic cough — Comprehensive overview covers causes, diagnosis and treatment of this frustrating condition. Some common causes and risk factors for chronic cough include asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus problems (for example sinus infection), esophageal reflux of stomach contents, medications such as ACE inhibitors, and whooping cough. This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Coughing helps to clear foreign substances from your lungs and keep your upper air passages clear. A chronic cough is defined as a cough that lasts more than 8 weeks (or 4 weeks for children) and is one of the most common complaints addressed in family medicine.