How To Get Over A Cough

eMedicineHealth

How Do I Know If My Cough Is Serious?

Reviewed on 10/29/2020

Definition
- What Is a Cough?
Symptoms
- What Are Other Symptoms Seen With Cough?
Causes
- What Causes Cough?
Diagnosis
- How Is Cough Diagnosed?
Treatment
- What Is the Treatment for Cough?
Prevention
- How Do You Prevent Cough?
Guide
- How Do I Know If My Cough Is Serious? Topic Guide

What Is a Cough?

Coughing is a symptom of many conditions, from autoimmune disease, to infection, to cancer and environmental factors. How serious the cough is depends on its severity, duration and the accompanying symptoms.

A cough can be voluntary or involuntary, and it is the body's way to help clear the airways of irritants and to prevent infection. Cough is not a disease in itself, but a symptom of an underlying medical condition.

A cough is categorized as acute, subacute, or chronic depending on how long it lasts.

Acute coughs last less than three weeks
Subacute coughs last three to eight weeks and remain after the initial cold or respiratory infection is over
Chronic coughs last more than eight weeks

What Are Other Symptoms Seen With Cough?

A cough may be accompanied by other cold symptoms, including:

Postnasal drip
Runny or stuffy nose
Sore throat
Hoarseness
Heartburn
Unpleasant taste in the mouth

See a doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms accompanying a cough because it may be serious:

Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath
Shallow, rapid breathing
Wheezing
Chest pain
Fever
Coughing up blood or yellow or green phlegm
Coughing so hard you vomit
Unexplained weight loss
Cough lasts more than 8 weeks
Fainting
Swelling of feet or ankles

What Causes Cough?

Causes of cough include:

Infections
- Common cold (viral infection)
- Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
- Bacterial or fungal infections
- Pneumonia
- Whooping cough (pertussis)
Smoking
- Most common cause of chronic cough
Postnasal drip
- Allergies (allergic rhinitis)
- Sinus infection
Lung conditions
- Asthma
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema
- Interstitial lung disease
- Lung cancer
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Certain medications such as ACE inhibitors
Inhalation of foreign objects into the lungs (usually in children)
Sarcoidosis
Congestive heart failure

How Is Cough Diagnosed?

Cough is diagnosed with a history and physical exam. Tests may be used to help diagnose the cause of the cough.

Lung imaging
- Chest X-ray
- Chest computerized tomography (CT) scan
Lung function tests
Acid reflux testing
- pH probe
- Upper endoscopy
Swab of inside the nose to test for COVID-19
Allergy skin tests
Lab tests of phlegm that is coughed up

QUESTION

Which illness is known as a viral upper respiratory tract infection? See Answer

What Is the Treatment for Cough?

Treatment of cough depends on the cause and whether the cough is acute or chronic. Treatment may include:

Over-the-counter (OTC) cough medicines containing guaifenesin and/or dextromethorphan (these can be found as cough syrups and in tablet form)
Antibiotics for infection caused by bacteria such as bacterial pneumonia and bronchitis
- Antibiotics will not treat cough caused by viruses such as the common cold, flu, or COVID-19
Inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled steroids to treat asthma and COPD
Decongestants such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed), antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), or nasal inhalers like ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) for postnasal drip
Famotidine (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac) omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC), lansoprazole (Prevacid, Prevacid 24-Hour), rabeprazole (Aciphex), pantoprazole (Protonix), esomeprazole (Nexium) to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
If cough is caused by an ACE inhibitor, your doctor may switch your medicine
- Never stop taking a prescribed medication without first talking to your doctor
Pain relievers (analgesics) to treat the pain caused by coughing

If the cough is not serious, home remedies may help relieve symptoms, such as:

Staying hydrated
Inhaling steam in a shower or using a humidifier
Gargling with warm saltwater
Cough lozenges (lozenges are not recommended for young children; they can be a choking hazard)
Don't smoke
Avoiding allergens such as pollen, dust, animals, or mold
Avoiding inhaled irritants such as smoke, dust, and other pollutants
For GERD: Avoiding foods that increase reflux, avoiding meals before lying down, elevating the head while sleeping

How Do You Prevent Cough?

To prevent cough:

Don't smoke
Manage chronic conditions that may cause cough such as asthma, postnasal drip, or GERD
Avoid people who are sick with the cold, flu, COVID, bronchitis, or pneumonia
Get the whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine
Eat fruit
- Research suggests diets high in fruit fiber and flavonoids may prevent chronic productive cough

Reviewed on 10/29/2020

References