Can Coughing Too Much Damage My Throat?

— -- Question: Can I damage my throat or lungs if I cough too hard or too much?

Answer: Well we always worry when people are coughing quite a bit and it does cause significant amount of irritation both to the throat and to the lungs. And more commonly people will get pain in their chest or in their rib muscles, which often times get irritated with a persistent or a chronic cough. Most of the time, these things are transient and often do not cause permanent damage. But again, if there are underlying conditions, especially in the lungs, they may want to seek attention with their physician.