Decoding Your Cough: When to Get It Checked Out

Introduction

Living in Maumee and the greater Toledo area offers the beauty of all four seasons, from warm summers on the Maumee River to crisp, cold winters.

With changing weather, seasonal allergies, and circulating viruses, it can be hard to know if your cough will go away on its own or if it requires a doctor's attention.

Understanding the different types of coughs and their potential causes can help you decide when to seek professional medical care.

Understanding the Different Types of Coughs

A cough is a reflex action to clear your airways of irritants and mucus. Not all coughs are the same, and identifying the type you have is the first step toward finding the right diagnosis and relief.

The Wet, Productive Cough

A wet cough, also known as a productive cough, is one that brings up mucus or phlegm. This is your body's way of clearing an infection or irritant from your lungs and airways. You might feel a rattling or congestion deep in your chest. The mucus can be clear, white, yellow, or green.

It’s often a symptom of respiratory infections like the common cold, influenza (the flu), bronchitis, or pneumonia. In our region, the damp, cold air of late fall and winter can sometimes make these infections linger.

While often associated with temporary illnesses, a persistent wet cough should not be ignored, as it could signal a more serious underlying condition.

The Dry, Hacking Cough

A dry cough is non-productive, meaning it doesn't produce any mucus. This type of cough can feel like a tickle in the back of your throat that you just can't clear.

It's often a persistent, hacking cough that may worsen at night or upon waking.

Allergies are a major trigger for dry coughs, especially during the spring and fall in Ohio when pollen from trees and ragweed is high. Other causes include asthma, acid reflux (GERD), post-nasal drip, or exposure to irritants like smoke or dry indoor air from winter heating.

Dry coughs can be particularly irritating and can disrupt sleep, but they are often treatable once the underlying cause is identified.

The Paroxysmal Cough (Coughing Fits)

A paroxysmal cough comes in the form of intense, sometimes uncontrollable fits of coughing. It can be exhausting and leave you breathless. These are violent coughing spells that may come on suddenly and can sometimes lead to vomiting or lightheadedness.

The most well-known cause is pertussis, or whooping cough, a serious bacterial infection. Whooping cough is characterized by a distinctive "whooping" sound as you gasp for air after a coughing spell. It's highly contagious and can be especially dangerous for infants. Other conditions like asthma, COPD, or pneumonia can also cause paroxysmal coughing.

Due to the severity and potential for a serious infection like pertussis, this type of cough always warrants a medical evaluation.

How Long Has Your Cough Lasted?

The duration of your cough is a critical clue for your doctor. Coughs are generally categorized by how long they stick around.

• Acute Cough: Lasts for less than three weeks. This is the most common type and is usually caused by a cold, flu, or other respiratory infection.
• Subacute Cough: Lasts between three and eight weeks. This cough may linger after the initial infection has cleared.
• Chronic Cough: Lasts for more than eight weeks. A chronic cough is not normal and requires a thorough medical investigation to determine the cause. Common culprits include smoking, untreated asthma, chronic bronchitis, GERD, or post-nasal drip.

Other Symptoms to Pay Attention To

Your cough rarely exists in a vacuum. Paying attention to other symptoms can provide important information about its cause. You should be especially mindful if your cough is accompanied by:

• Fever and chills
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe)
• Chest pain, pressure, or tightness
• Thick, colored mucus (green or yellow)
• Coughing up blood
• Unexplained fatigue or body aches
• Night sweats

The presence of these symptoms alongside your cough increases the urgency of seeking medical care.

When to Seek Care

You don't have to self-diagnose your cough. At ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care in Maumee, our unique facility combines emergency and urgent care services under one roof. This means you can walk in and our medical team will assess your symptoms to ensure you receive the right level of care without the guesswork.

Visit our center if you experience any of the following:

• Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or wheezing.
• Coughing up blood or bloody mucus.
• A cough that lasts more than two to three weeks, especially if it's getting worse.
• Symptoms of whooping cough, such as violent coughing fits followed by a "whoop."
• Any cough in a very young infant or an elderly person with other health conditions.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care provides the highest level of care and service. The emergency room is open 24/7, and the urgent care clinic is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. No appointments are necessary, and patients are examined by ER-trained physicians. Patients receive quality health care to meet their needs and only pay for the level of service they receive.

ProMedica Toledo Hospital Emergency and Urgent Care is conveniently located at 1075 Medical Center Parkway, Maumee, OH 43537.