A forceful, noisy expulsion of breath. A cough is an attempt to clear the air passages of anything that causes irritation, such as mucus. One cause of irritation is Bronchitis; heavy smoking is another. Coughing is a symptom of many different conditions, from the common cold to serious diseases like whooping cough, emphysema, tuberculosis, and lung cancer. If a cough persists for more than a few weeks, or if bloody sputum is coughed up, consult a doctor. A cough in infants should have medical attention without delay.
Coughing may be relieved, but not cured, by a Cough Medicine. Those that are sold without a prescription are seldom very effective. Most of the cough medicines that effectively suppress coughing can be habit-forming, and should be taken only according to your doctor's directions.