What is a Cough?
Cough is the most common illness of all ages. Although a cough can sound awful, it usually is not a sign of a more serious condition. In fact, coughing is a common reflex reaction that keeps the airways clear of mucus and irritants. Contact Doral Health and Wellness and talk to our primary care doctors if your cough doesn’t go away after a few weeks or if you develop a fever. They are the best doctors in Brooklyn, and they can help and work you with your condition. Doral Health and Wellness also has an urgent care facility that can provide you emergency medical assistance should you need one. The different types of coughs may be related to how they last: ∙Acute cough – this type of cough usually lasts for less than three weeks ∙Subacute cough – this type of cough usually lasts between three to eight weeks, ∙Chronic cough – this is the persistent kind of cough that’s lasts more than eight weeks ∙Refractory cough – this is a chronic cough that hasn’t responded to any type of treatment The type of cough related to mucus: ∙Productive cough – or wet cough, is the kind of cough that brings up mucus or phlegm ∙Non-productive cough – or dry cough, is the type that doesn’t bring up mucus or phlegm A cough can be caused by several different conditions. Common causes for acute cough can include: ∙Inhaling an irritant, such as smoke, dust, chemical, etc. ∙Common cold ∙Influenza ∙Pneumonia ∙Whooping cough Common causes for chronic cough can include: ∙Allergies ∙Bronchitis ∙Asthma ∙Postnasal drip ∙Gastroesophageal reflux disease Other causes can include: ∙Acute sinusitis ∙Bronchiectasis ∙Bronchiolitis ∙Chronic sinusitis ∙Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ∙COVID-19 ∙Cystic fibrosis ∙Laryngitis ∙Lung cancer ∙Pulmonary embolism ∙Sarcoidosis ∙Tuberculosis Call your primary care doctor if your cough doesn’t go away after a few weeks or if it involves any of these symptoms: ∙Fever ∙Wheezing ∙Shortness of breath ∙Fainting Emergency care is needed if you are: ∙Choking or vomiting ∙Having difficulty breathing or swallowing ∙Coughing up blood ∙Having chest pain Coughs can be treated in different ways, depending on the case. At home, remedies can be […]
