Coughing can be an irritating symptom that is difficult to ignore. However, coughs do not always indicate the presence of an illness. Learn more about the causes of a cough and when you should seek medical treatment for a cough at urgent care. What Causes a Cough Coughing is simply the contraction of your lungs in response to an irritant. Your body coughs as a mechanism to get rid of debris, mucus, infections, and anything ...