Having a chronic cough that seems to linger around is no laughing matter. It can be indicative of infections, smoking complications, nasal blockages and a few other dozen things.

Are you ignoring that cough that is not always expressing itself, but then never seems to go away as well? If so, you need to find out the root cause of that cough and see what you can do about it. Your body is trying to tell you something, you know.

Although coughing generally is the body's way of expelling material from the body (usually mucus), but coughing at night (consistently) may mean there is a lingering problem, such as a viral upper respiratory tract infections, asthma, nasal and sinus disease, stomach and esophageal problems, an inhaled foreign body or my favorite -- environmental irritants. Think your home is clean? Think again.