An expert has shared some top tips to help you identify what type of cough you have and when to take action.
Throughout the winter months, many people will find themselves coming down with some kind of illness. But with cold and flu as well as RSV, Covid-19 and other winter illnesses, often it can be hard to determine what you have.
Many symptoms can overlap. Although the average cough lasts around 18 days it can be difficult to determine whether your cough is in fact "just a cough", or if there is a further, potentially serious cause that needs reviewing by a medical professional.
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Dr Malathy Munisamy, a clinical research physician involved in respiratory research at MAC Clinical Research, said “if your cough lasts three weeks or more, you should book a visit to see your GP.
"Standard coughs, which are often ‘harmless’, settle on their own within a couple of weeks. A cough is simply the body's natural response to any irritations within the airways. Coughs can be categorised into 3 groups; acute, subacute, and chronic."
Types of cough:
Acute coughs
These usually last less than three weeks and are most seen with colds or upper respiratory infections. Other causes include covid and other lung conditions such as acute bronchitis, tracheobronchitis, pneumonia, acute exacerbations of asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis, pulmonary embolism, or pneumothorax. For example:
Post-nasal drip
Symptoms include:
- Dry or tickly cough, usually presenting white mucus
- Feeling of mucus dripping down the throat
- Can cause the throat to feel sore and swollen
The cause of a post-nasal drip is usually down to allergies and the mucus caused by them. It can be treated with a steroid-based nasal spray can ease inflammation in the nose to reduce the mucus.
Colds and flu
Symptoms include:
- Sore throat with a cough that sometimes produces yellow phlegm
- Headaches
- Muscle aches
- Sneezing
- Increased temperature/fever
Colds and flu are caused by viruses spread through droplets in the air from people coughing and sneezing. As this cough is caused by a virus, rest, hydration, paracetamol, ibuprofen or cold relief medication are usually effective treatments. If you are taking antibiotics for viruses, these will not work and could lead to bacterial antibiotic resistance.
Sub-acute coughs
Usually last between three to eight weeks. Usually occurs after an infection such as Mycoplasma pneumonia or Bordetella pertussis (known as ‘whooping cough’). For example:
Chest Infections
Symptoms include:
- A chesty cough
- Wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain
- High temperature, aching muscles, fatigue and headaches
- Lots of dark yellow or green mucus
Chest infections are usually caused by a virus, such as bronchitis. Chest infections can either be viral or bacterial, both are treated with different medications. Either antiviral medication or an antibiotic can be prescribed alongside the usual advice of rest, paracetamol, and hydration.
COVID
Symptoms include:
- A new continuous cough, which means you cough a lot for more than an hour or have three or more coughing episodes in 24 hours
- A high temperature
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
- Shortness of breath and/or a sore throat
- Tiredness, runny nose, diarrhoea
While there are vaccinations against developing severe symptoms of Covid-19, treatment is mostly the same as when you have a cold or flu; staying hydrated, getting lots of sleep, and paracetamol for when you feel uncomfortable.
Pneumonia
Symptoms include:
- A wet cough, sometimes with foul-smelling green or yellow mucus
- Shortness of breath, chest pain, and a wheezing noise when you breathe
- A high temperature
- Aches and pains and feeling very tired
- Loss of appetite
Pneumonia is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection, much the same as a chest infection, but the infection and its symptoms are much more severe. Hydration and medication, such as antibiotics or antivirals, is recommended, but if you are at risk of serious illness, (for instance, if you are over 65), have cardiovascular disease, a lung condition, or if it is your baby or child that has pneumonia, you may need to go to hospital to receive further treatment and oxygen.
Chronic coughs
It usually lasts over eight weeks. These are commonly seen in people exposed to cigarette smoke (either actively or passively) and from a variety of lung conditions including asthma, COPD, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, lung cancer, interstitial lung disease, and heart failure.
Environmental or occupational causes may also contribute to chronic coughing. For example:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath and a persistent cough
- Wheezing and chest tightness
- Fatigue and frequent respiratory infections
- Increased amounts of mucus, commonly coloured brown
COPD is a term given to a group of lung conditions including bronchitis and emphysema. Prolonged or long-term exposure to damaging irritants, such as smoking, dust, chemicals, and fumes are the primary cause of COPD. There is currently no cure for this progressive illness, but there are lifestyle changes which can help ease symptoms and aim to prolong life expectancy.
These include stopping smoking, bronchodilators, inhaled corticosteroids, pulmonary rehabilitation, and oxygen therapy. Speak to your doctor or GP about the options available.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath and a persistent dry, hacking cough
- Chest discomfort or chest pain
- Fatigue and unintentional weight loss
- Clubbing of the fingers and toes
- Producing a brown or red-tinged phlegm
‘Idiopathic’ means that the cause of pulmonary fibrosis is unknown, however, there are several theories proposed for contributing to the development of IPF, such as long-term exposure to various environmental agents, including dust, pollutants, and certain occupational hazards, genetic factors and potentially some viral infections. There are medications, supplemental oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, and, in some cases, lung transplantation.
Lung Cancer
Symptoms include:
- Constant coughing and shortness of breath
- May also experience shoulder pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, or pain when you take in a deep breath
- Coughing up blood or a pink/red phlegm
With 34,800 deaths per year, lung cancer is the UK's biggest cancer killer. In 72% of cases, lung cancer is caused by smoking alone. Treatment depends on the type of lung cancer, but patients will often have to go through surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
If you are worried about a new persistent cough, or you’re concerned that the symptoms described above fit with your condition, then do consult your GP or doctor at the earliest opportunity.
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