A persistent cough or a chronic cough is a common symptom with many possible causes. Annoying effects of coughing, such as loss of sleep, sore chest muscles, and leaking urine can affect your quality of life and interfere with your daily activities.If your cough is lingering, you might also be wondering if it could be something worse than a cold or allergies. What does it mean if you have a cough that just won't go away?