A cough that lasts more than 8 weeks is considered chronic — and it usually has a findable cause. Our board-certified specialists evaluate the common culprits, from postnasal drip and asthma to reflux and nerve-related cough, and work with you on a plan to help.
Most chronic coughs trace back to one of a few causes — and sometimes more than one at once. Finding which applies to you is the point of the evaluation.
Allergies or sinus inflammation sending mucus down the throat — one of the most common causes, especially in the Valley's long pollen season.
Cough can be the only symptom of asthma — no wheeze at all. Spirometry helps us check.
Asthma care →Stomach acid irritating the airway, often worse at night or after meals — sometimes without any heartburn.
An oversensitive cough reflex that persists after the original trigger is gone. Less known, but treatable once identified.
When the cough started, what triggers it, what you've tried — including medications like ACE inhibitors that can cause cough as a side effect.
Spirometry to check lung function, and allergy testing when postnasal drip or asthma is suspected — both in-office.
Treatment aimed at the specific cause we find — not a one-size-fits-all cough suppressant.
Chronic cough sometimes has more than one cause; we reassess and adjust the plan until we've addressed what's driving it.
In the moment: sip water, try a lozenge or a spoonful of honey (not for children under 1), and breathe slowly through your nose. But if coughing fits keep coming back for weeks, treat the cause rather than the fit — an evaluation can identify what's driving it. Seek urgent care for coughing with trouble breathing, chest pain, or coughing up blood.
Longer than 8 weeks in adults (4 weeks in children). A cough lingering a couple of weeks after a cold is common; one that persists for two months deserves an evaluation.
Nighttime cough often points to postnasal drip pooling when you lie down, reflux, or asthma — which characteristically worsens at night. The pattern is a useful diagnostic clue we'll ask about.
Yes — allergic postnasal drip is one of the most common causes, and in the Central Valley's long pollen season it can persist for months. Allergy testing can identify the trigger.
It's common — cough can be the only symptom of asthma, reflux, or an oversensitive cough reflex. "Just a cough" that lasts months still has a cause worth finding.
Book a visit and we'll work with you to find what's driving it and build a plan designed to help.