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Coughs

A cough is a common symptom that can range from mildly annoying to a serious health concern.

If you are currently suffering from a dry cough, a wet cough, or something in between, our team is here to help you get to the bottom of it and find relief.

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Coughing Explained

A cough is a reflex action that clears the airways of irritants, smoke, mucus, or foreign particles and can be triggered by various factors, including infections and allergies.

There are two main types of coughs: a dry cough, which does not produce mucus, and a wet cough, which does.

Whether dry or wet, coughing helps protect your lungs and throat from potential damage. However, persistent coughing can be a sign that something more serious is going on.

Frequently Observed Symptoms

A wet cough involves mucus production that can be clear, yellow, green, or occasionally bloody. It is often associated with chest congestion and a bubbling sound when breathing or coughing. This type of cough tends to worsen in the morning due to mucus buildup overnight and may be linked to difficulty breathing or a feeling of chest tightness, which can lead to fatigue from coughing and disrupted sleep.

In contrast, a dry cough does not produce mucus. It is typically marked by an itchy sensation in the throat. This type of cough often worsens at night, causing a dry, raw throat and potentially leading to hoarseness or voice changes due to throat irritation.

doctor
Serious doctor with arms crossed

Diagnosing A Persistent Cough

If a cough persists for more than a few weeks or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms (such as a high fever, difficulty breathing, or significant chest pain), it is a good idea to consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and treatment.

Recommended tests might include chest X-rays, phlegm analysis, allergy testing, and measurements of lung capacity. Accurate diagnosis is crucial for determining the most effective treatment to combat your persistent cough and help you breathe better.

It is important to always follow your doctor’s recommendations rather than attempting to manage symptoms on your own.

Typical Treatment Options

Our treatment plans are customised to address the specific cause of your cough. This may include medication, such as prescription or over-the-counter cough suppressants, expectorants, or antibiotics if a bacterial infection is present.

Lifestyle changes might be recommended to avoid irritants, improve air quality, and manage allergies. Follow-up care is also an integral part of the plan, involving regular monitoring of your condition and adjustments to the treatment as necessary to ensure complete recovery.

Woman doctor pointing
Woman doctor taking notes

Coughing In Children

Children can experience coughs for many of the same reasons as adults, but there are specific considerations to keep in mind.

Common childhood infections such as croup, whooping cough, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are more prevalent in children and may require specialised treatment.

It is absolutely crucial to prioritise safety by ensuring that any cough medicines and remedies are appropriate for your child’s age and by following dosing instructions carefully.

If your child’s cough is accompanied by wheezing, difficulty breathing, or a high fever, it is very important to seek medical attention immediately.

Triggers Of Acute Coughs

Acute coughs, also known as shorter-term coughs, are associated with somewhat milder symptoms and are typically caused by:

  • Allergies or hay fever.
  • Inhaled irritants like dust or smoke.
  • Chronic conditions flaring up (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis).
  • Lower respiratory infection (LRI) affecting the lungs or lower airways, such as with allergy, pneumonia, or acute
    bronchitis.
  • Upper respiratory infection (URI) affecting the throat, windpipe or sinuses, such as with cold, flu, whooping cough,
    laryngitis, or sinusitis.
Doctor with stethoscope
woman doctor explaining

Long-Term Cough Causes

Long-term coughs, also referred to as persistent or chronic coughs, can be caused by:

  • Asthma.
  • Allergies.
  • Smoking.
  • Bronchiectasis.
  • Long-term respiratory tract infection (chronic bronchitis).
  • Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), where leaking stomach acid irritates the throat.
  • Prescription medicines, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), the blood pressure medication.
  • Postnasal drip, where the cough is due to mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose, such as with rhinitis or sinusitis.

In rare cases, persistent cough can be a symptom of more serious conditions like lung cancer, heart failure, pulmonary embolism, or tuberculosis (TB).

Statistics​

of UK adults experienced chronic cough during their lifetime
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of All Doctors in the UK are GPs
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GPs per 10000 people in the UK
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times on average, a person sees a GP a year
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What to do next

It is only in rare cases that a cough is caused by a serious condition, but we recommend that you come in to get it checked out and receive a proper diagnosis, particularly if it has gone on for a long time or if you experience chest pain or are coughing up blood.

Treatments

We work with experienced consultants & healthcare professionals who have received positive feedback from our patients, and with whom we have established long-term relationships.

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Dr Mohammad

Dr Mohammad Mohseyni

Senior General practitioner

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Should I take cough medicine?
If you have a chest infection, the best way to proceed is to see a doctor. Suppressing a cough with a cough medicine does not always help, and in some cases may make it harder to clear an infection.
What are the symptoms of a serious cough?
It is important to be aware of signs of a more serious cough, such as a cough that does not go away after a couple of weeks, a severe cough, a cough that does not seem to be getting better, or a painful cough.
How does GORD (acid reflux) lead to a cough?
When you have acid reflux, liquids from the stomach rise into the oesophagus. If they rise high enough to reach the throat, this can irritate the throat lining and lead to a cough. You may have this kind of cough without noticing other stomach symptoms.

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