5 Scary Reasons Why You Might Be Coughing So Much

Tuberculosis (TB), a disease caused by a bacteria known as mycobacterium tuberculosis, is relatively rare in the United States—less than 10,000 cases were reported in this country in 2015, according to the CDC, compared to over 10 million worldwide. Your risk goes up if you have a weakened immune system (say, from advanced diabetes, HIV, or cancer) and/or have spent time in high-risk areas such as Africa or parts of Eastern Europe. (Eat these power foods to boost your immunity.)

Be concerned if… 
Your cough lasts more than three weeks and is paired with chest pain, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and night sweats, and/or you’re coughing up blood. Without treatment, TB can be fatal; it can spread throughout your body, damaging your spine, joints, brain, and even heart. It’s diagnosed via skin or blood test; treatment is antibiotics.