Identifying Your Cough: Different Types of Coughs and When to See a Doctor

By definition the term "cough" means

"A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs typically in order to clear the lung airways of fluids, mucus, or material. Also called tussis."

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2852

We have all had a cough at some point in our lives. And will likely continue to get a cough every now and then for the rest of our lives.

A cough is not uncommon nor does it always mean that someone is sick. As annoying as it is we cough for a reason. Coughing can be both voluntary (you make a conscious decision to cough) and involuntary (your body decides to cough and you cough by reflex).

You can cough for many different reasons. But the main goal of a cough is to clear away some type of irritation from your airway. Maybe your lungs are full of phlegm or you are trying to stop that annoying tickle in your throat.

It is great to be able to identify the different types of coughs. This helps you in deciding whether or not you need to visit your doctor.

Productive Chest Cough- A productive chest cough simply means that you are coughing up some sort of phlegm. You are productively getting rid of an irritant in your lungs. This is the type of cough that you can feel the contents of your lungs moving around after each cough. If you do in fact have a productive chest cough it is important to know that you should not be taking any cough suppressant medicine. Your body needs you to cough in order to get rid of the phlegm. By taking cough suppressant medicines you are then preventing or lessening your cough reflex and the phlegm continues to sit in your lungs. This can lead to something more serious than the common cold such as pneumonia.

However, you can take an expectorant cough mixture for your productive chest cough. This will help loosen up the phlegm in your lungs making it easier for you to cough up. The more phlegm you expel from your lungs the easier it is to breath and the less likely you are to develop something more serious than a cold.

Consult a doctor if your productive chest cough lasts beyond 7-10 days or you begin coughing up green phlegm. Or phlegm containing mucus. You know your body best. So even if you are not experiencing any of these and still feel as if you should visit your doctor, go.

Non-productive or Dry Cough- This cough is basically the opposite of the productive chest cough. You are coughing but you are not producing any phlegm. And it is therefore, unproductive. This cough is very dry sounding unlike the productive cough.

This type of cough is often experienced near the end of a cold when there is not longer any phlegm to be expelled. Or after exposure to certain respiratory irritants such as dust or dander.

Although, it the use of medications is still discouraged as it is important to get rid of any secretions or irritants. This is the type of cough that it is safer to use cough suppressant medications for. Rather than the productive cough.

"Barking" Cough- The barking cough is exactly that. A loud, dry, hoarse, bark like cough. This type of cough is often referred to as croup ( a respiratory disease caused by a viral infection). However, croup is not always the case. A barking cough is often the cause of a swollen upper respiratory tract which may be the result of the common cold. And often seems to worsen at night. Monitor this type of cough for infections and swelling that will that may make breathing difficult. If it becomes difficult to breath seek medical attention.

If this cough and swelling of the upper respiratory tract is due to a foreign object. Or even if you suspect it may be due to a foreign object in the airway. Seek medical attention even if it does not seem severe. As it may cause more damage if left alone.

Steroids or in severe cases epinephrine are medications that may be given to someone who is experiencing this type of cough. A home remedy for this type of cough would be inhaling moist, warm air.

Whooping Cough- Whooping cough is also known as Pertussis. A very contagious bacterial disease. It is caused whooping cough because it causes uncontrollable coughing fits which produce a "whoop" or gasping like sound usually in children and babies. This "whoop" noise is caused by the inhalation of air after coughing. These coughing fits can become so violent that the whooping cough sufferer may even vomit after coughing. Other symptoms include the sufferer feeling as if they are suffocating, feeling light headed, and fainting, followed by a period of feeling well and having no cough at all.

This bacterial infection is spread easily from person to person by droplets of saliva produced while coughing. Whooping cough can be very serious even resulting in death. Therefore, it is important to protect yourself and others by covering your mouth when you cough. And frequent, proper hand washing.

This cough usually lasts for up to 6 weeks. And is sometimes treated with antibiotics (does not usually help the person with whooping cough but can help prevent it from spreading to others) , cough suppressants or inhalers. However, it is often not treated and left to run it's course. Whooping cough can cause many other complications such as fractured ribs, hernias or pneumonia .

Luckily whooping cough is often prevented by a vaccination which is given to young babies who are most at risk of death due to whooping cough. The pertussis vaccine is often given in combination with the diphtheria and tetanus vaccinations.

Psychogenic Cough- Also known as the habit cough or tic. This type of cough is common after a cold or other illness that causes coughing. A habit cough has no other signs and symptoms of being sick and often stops occurring once the person is asleep. A habit cough is more common in children than in adults. And can also be due to the attention the cough gets from others or a nervous habit that the person has.

No pharmacological treatment will work for this type of cough. If it becomes a problem and begins affecting the sufferers life therapy is the type of treatment needed.

Reflex Cough- A reflex cough is not due to any sort of illness. And is usually caused by an environmental irritant. Such as dust and dander in the air. Which then causes the person to cough momentarily to clear their airway.

The number one reason to see a doctor is when your gut feeling says to do so. You know your body better than everyone else. And if you feel you need to see a doctor. Odds are you truly do.

Other Symptoms That May Need Medical Attention

• Green, yellow, tan or bloody plegm. This also often has a bad taste too it.
• A fever over 38 degrees Celsius.
• Shortness of breath.
• Persistent cough lasting more than a month.
• If your coughing is decreasing your quality of life.
• Wheezing.
• Chest pain.
• Experiencing weight loss.
• Chills and/or night sweats.
• If you have heart problems.