The "Prague Cough": Dealing with Winter Respiratory Issues and Smog

Swiss Medical Services
Dec 23, 2025
2 min read

It starts with the first drop in temperatures in November and often lasts until March. You hear it on the tram, in the office, and perhaps in your own home: a persistent, dry, nagging cough that just won’t go away.

Expats long-term residents often jokingly call it the "Prague Cough." But for many, there is nothing funny about months of respiratory discomfort.

Prague is beautiful in winter, but the combination of cold virus season and the city's geography creates a challenging environment for your lungs. At Swiss Medical Services in Prague 1, we see a spike in patients suffering from bronchitis, asthma flare-ups, and lingering infections during these months. Here is why it happens and how to treat it effectively.

The "Inversion": Why Prague Air Gets Heavy

Prague is situated in a basin. During winter, a meteorological phenomenon called an inversion frequently occurs. A layer of warm air sits on top of cold air close to the ground, trapping pollutants from heating and traffic like a lid on a pot.

When the air quality index worsens, just walking around the city can irritate your airways. If you already have a mild viral infection, this poor air quality can prevent your lungs from healing, turning a one-week cold into a two-month ordeal.

When is a Cough More Than Just a Cold?

Many people try to self-medicate with syrups from the pharmacy (lékárna). While these might soothe a simple throat tickle, they don't address deeper inflammation or bacterial infections.

You should seek professional medical advice if:

Your cough has lasted more than 3 weeks.
You are experiencing shortness of breath or wheezing after climbing stairs.
You are coughing up thick mucus (yellow or green).
You have a persistent low-grade fever or night sweats.
You have a history of asthma that feels uncontrolled.

The "Swiss Approach" to Respiratory Care

We don't just prescribe cough syrup and send you home. We aim to find the root cause of the inflammation. Our English-speaking doctors take a comprehensive approach:

Thorough Auscultation: Listening carefully to your lungs to identify where the issue is located (upper airways vs. deep in the chest).
Inflammation Markers: Quick blood tests (like CRP) to determine if the infection is bacterial (requiring antibiotics) or viral.
Targeted Treatment: Depending on the diagnosis, this might include prescription inhalers to open airways, specific antibiotics, or stronger anti-inflammatory medication that isn't available over the counter.

Don't accept a winter of coughing as "normal." If you are struggling to breathe easily, get a proper check-up in our comfortable city center clinic.