The Cough That Won't Go Away

Why are some coughs so hard to get rid of? Discover the cause and you can banish them for good.

- Sarah Marinos

IF you have a lingering tickle, you are probably among the five to 10 per cent of Australian men and women battling a chronic cough.

“A chronic cough is one that lasts longer than four weeks,” explains Professor Christine Jenkins, head of respiratory trials at The George Institute for Global Health. “Coughs are very common, particularly in autumn and winter. People get a cold that goes down into their throat and major airways and it causes inflammation and irritation.”

And while an everyday cold infection explains most chronic coughs, you should talk to your GP to rule out the rare possibility of cancer. We take a look at some the other reasons behind a lingering cough.

Post-nasal drip

Sinusitis can be a key cause of post-nasal drip, where mucus runs down the back of the throat. This tickles or irritates cells in the larynx or voice box and causes coughing fits. These can be particularly bad at night as mucus pools in the throat when you lie down. Allergies, such as hayfever, can have the same effect. Talk to your GP about how to treat sinusitis or allergies.

“If you have a cough, don’t suppress it. Cough up the phlegm and have hot drinks with honey to soothe the throat,” advises Dr Magdalena Simonis from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.