The One Type of Cough You Should Never, Ever Ignore
Often, coughs are just a normal annoyance that arrive during cold and flu season or when you swallow water down the wrong pipe (ugh, the worst!).
However, since COVID hit, hearing a cough seems to make people especially uncomfortable. That's totally fair: COVID is a serious disease, and coughs aren't usually a good sign in light of the pandemic, especially for immune-compromised or high-risk individuals.
That said, some coughs are more concerning than others. While it may seem easy to discern the more troubling ones, that's not always the case. Coughs that don't sound "that bad" can be misleading. In fact, some of those coughs that seem easy to dismiss are the ones that indicate a larger issue is at play, in which a visit to the doctor's office is needed.
Never Ignore This Type of Cough
"Coughs that occur outside of a typical upper respiratory illness and last for more than three weeks should always be addressed with your physician," says Dr. Bryan Cochran, MD, a family physician at MedStar Health.
Besides a cough, signs of an upper respiratory infection include fever, a hoarse voice, fatigue or lack of energy, red eyes, a runny nose, a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes (aka swelling on the sides of your neck). Even mood changes can be a symptom of an infection. This particular infection usually lasts one to two weeks.
Several reasons could explain this unexplained cough, according to Dr. Cochran. Other than the examples listed above, Dr. Cochran adds something mild, like a medication side effect, or potentially something much more serious, like cancer.
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He's not the only doctor who would be concerned about a long-lasting cough. Dr. Michael Weiner, DO, MSM, MSIST, the chief medical officer for Michigan State University Health Care, said in a previously told Parade that a cough that lingers for three weeks or longer calls for a doctor’s visit.
These coughs are classified as either lingering coughs (if they last three to eight weeks) or chronic coughs (if they last longer than eight weeks). Lingering coughs are often due to an unresolved infection, virus or flare-up of an underlying health condition—such as lung disease or asthma—whereas a chronic cough can be a sign of asthma, COPD, acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or upper airway cough syndrome. Chronic coughs affect anywhere between two percent and 18% percent of people in the world. That's a lot of people!
Related: This One Symptom Is a Weird Asthma Sign Most People Miss
What Indicates a Serious Cough?
According to Dr. Cochran, there's no real answer to that outside of figuring out the root cause.
"While it may seem like certain features, such as coughing up blood or a particular-sounding cough, may be more serious than a run-of-the-mill dry cough, it is always important to get evaluated by a physician as the quality and features of a given cough are not enough to determine its source or severity," Dr. Cochran explained.
Related: This Is the Very Best Side to Sleep On If You Have Acid Reflux, According to a G.I. Doc
What To Do if You Have a Cough But No Other Upper Respiratory Symptoms
Noticing a random, ongoing cough? Dr. Cochran says the first important step is to make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
Going to the doctor's office about a questionable symptom can be scary, so Dr. Cochran explains what may happen at that appointment. "Depending on your particular medical history, they will order the appropriate labs and imaging studies or stop the offending medication," he says.
As far as treatment, here's a surprising fact he shares: Most cough medications are not very effective. With that said, you aren't without hope.
"The most important treatment for cough is understanding the underlying cause and addressing it with your physician," he explained.
Acid reflux coughs, for example, may be treated through acid reflux care, such as eating slowly, lying on an incline, quitting smoking and taking medication.
So, if you develop a cough outside of an illness, or even with one, he recommends seeing your doctor to ascertain where it’s coming from and what you can do about it.
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Sources
Dr. Bryan Cochran, MD, a family physician
Dr. Michael Weiner, DO, MSM, MSIST, a chief medical officer
"Chronic cough: new insights and future prospects." European Respiratory Review
"Upper Respiratory Infection." Cleveland Clinic
"9 at-home treatments for acid reflux." Harvard Health
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