Cough Workup: What Doctors Do When You Can't Stop Coughing

When a cough sticks around longer than a cold, it’s not just annoying—it’s a signal. A cough workup, a step-by-step process doctors use to find the root cause of a persistent cough. Also known as a respiratory evaluation, it’s not just listening to your lungs. It’s connecting dots between your symptoms, lifestyle, and medical history to rule out everything from allergies to heart problems. Most people think a cough is just a cold that won’t quit, but if it lasts more than eight weeks, it’s called chronic cough—and that’s when the real detective work begins.

Doctors don’t guess. They follow a clear path. First, they ask: Are you on blood pressure meds? ACE inhibitors are a top trigger, and many don’t even know it. Did you start smoking or get exposed to dust or pollution? Is your chest tight, or do you get heartburn after meals? These aren’t random questions. Each one points to a different cause: asthma, acid reflux, postnasal drip, or even early signs of lung disease. A chronic cough, a cough lasting over eight weeks that often signals an underlying condition doesn’t go away with cough syrup. It needs a targeted approach. That’s where diagnostic tests, objective tools like chest X-rays, spirometry, or pH monitoring used to identify the source of a persistent cough come in. A simple chest X-ray can catch pneumonia or tumors. A breathing test can show if your airways are tight from asthma. And a 24-hour acid monitor? That’s how they prove silent reflux is wrecking your throat.

What you won’t find in most online guides is how often the answer is something simple—and overlooked. Maybe it’s your pillow collecting dust, or your coffee triggering reflux, or a leftover infection from months ago. The cough workup isn’t about throwing drugs at the problem. It’s about removing the triggers, one by one. That’s why you’ll see posts here about how ACE inhibitors affect the lungs, how allergies link to breathing issues, and how even heart conditions can mimic a cough. You’ll also find advice on avoiding fake meds, understanding drug side effects, and knowing when to push back when a doctor says "it’s just a cough."

Below, you’ll find real-world guides that break down exactly how these pieces fit together. Whether you’ve been told it’s "all in your head" or you’re tired of buying cough syrup that does nothing, these posts give you the facts to ask the right questions—and finally get relief.