Coughing is the body’s way of trying to clear the airways and lungs of any irritants and/or secretions. An occasional cough is understandable and normal. A persistent or chronic cough, however, could be an indication of something else. So, what’s the difference between a persistent cough and a normal one?

A persistent cough, is a cough that lasts for more than a few, usually eight weeks in adults and a month i.e. four weeks in children. Smoking, bronchitis, asthma, COPD and respiratory tract infections are some of the causes of persistent cough. However, there’s no need to worry, as with the right diagnosis and treatment, this is easily manageable.