It is true that people with a bad heart can develop a cough, especially during an attack of heart failure when a dry cough is the main symptom. There are many causes of coughing besides a bad heart and heart failure, patients may also have a simple respiratory infection; some people may also have a cough triggered by taking special medications, such as the antihypertensive drugs of the Prilosec class, and some people may have a persistent dry cough after taking them. The diagnosis must be clear when coughing occurs.