Specialty Services and Programs PartneringCare Senior Services Senior Health Articles Persistent Cough By Michael Spilane, MD The cough is a vital body reflex that allows obstructing material to be cleared from the air passages in our lungs. But when a cough persists, it can be a very distressing symptom. In the elderly, a cough that will not go away can be more than just an annoyance--it can ...