Cough
What is a cough?
Coughing is a common reflex action that is a response to irritation in your throat or airway. It is a normal reaction of your body to make breathing easier.
Infrequent coughing, like clearing the throat, is entirely normal but may increase when your throat is irritated.
Sustained coughing can be the result of a number of conditions, such as allergies, asthma, environmental exposures, and viral or bacterial infections.
What causes a cough?
You should contact a doctor if:
Your cough hasn’t improved within a few weeks.
Seek immediate emergency medical attention if:
You are coughing up blood or having difficulty breathing.
If additional symptoms develop, contact your doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms to watch out for include:
- Fever
- Chest pains
- Headaches
- Drowsiness
- Confusion
How is a cough prevented?
In addition to learning how to treat a cough, you might want to learn how to prevent it in the first place.
To protect against flu, make sure you get your annual flu shot, usually starting in September or October.
Other steps you can take include:
- Avoid coming into contact with others who are sick. If you know you are sick, avoid going to work or school so you won’t get others sick.
- Cover your nose and mouth whenever your cough or sneeze.
- Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated.
- Clean the common areas of your home, work, or school frequently. This is especially important for countertops, toys, or mobile phones.
- Wash your hands frequently, especially after coughing, eating, going to the bathroom, or caring for someone who’s sick.
With allergies, you can reduce flare ups by identifying the allergens that affect you and avoiding exposure to them. Common allergens include trees, pollen, dust mites, animal fur, mold, and insects.
In severe cases, allergy shots may be helpful as well and can reduce your sensitivity to allergens.
Talk to your doctor about what plan is right for you.
How is a cough treated?
Most coughs are harmless and go away on their own, but if yours lasts for over a week or you have difficulty breathing, please see a doctor. Coughs can be treated in a variety of ways, depending on the cause.
If your doctor can’t find a cause for your cough, they may order additional tests. This could include:
- A chest x-ray to assess whether your lungs are clear.
- Blood tests to evaluate for infection, monitor immune response, or determine a possible allergic cause.
- Sputum or mucus analysis for signs of bacteria or tuberculosis infection.
- It is rare for a cough to be the only symptom of heart problems, but a doctor may request an echocardiogram to ensure that your heart is functioning correctly and isn’t causing the cough.
Other, less common tests include:
- CT scan: A CT scan offers a more in-depth view of the airways and chest. It can be useful when determining the cause of a cough.
- Esophageal pH monitoring: If the CT scan doesn’t show the cause, your doctor may refer you to a gastrointestinal specialist or a pulmonary (lung) specialist. One of the tests these specialists may use is esophageal pH monitoring to look for evidence of GERD, which can also trigger a cough.
Patient First treats many conditions at our urgent care centers including coughs. You can visit any Patient First center from 8am to 8pm, any day of the week – no appointment is needed.
Why Patient First?
Patient First provides efficient service that meets your medical needs as well as your schedule. Don’t wait for an appointment—simply walk in to your nearest Patient First center today. Our extended night, weekend, and holiday hours mean you never have to miss work or school. We pride ourselves in a minimum wait at our urgent care centers, which is significantly less than at the hospital emergency room.
