A cough is your body's way to clear your airways of things such as mucus or dust.
Most coughs go away on their own within 3 weeks. There's usually no need to see a GP.
How to treat a cough yourself
To ease a cough you can:
- rest
- drink plenty of fluids
- drink hot lemon with honey (not suitable for babies)
Hot lemon with honey has a similar effect as cough medicines.
What to do if you have symptoms of COVID-19
Types of cough
You may have a cough:
- without mucus - called a dry or non-productive cough
- with mucus - called a wet, chesty or productive cough
- with a barking sound - this may be a sign of croup in children
- with a whooping sound - this may be a sign of whooping cough in children
- with a wheezing sound - this may be a sign of bronchitis or asthma
A pharmacist can help with a cough
A pharmacist can give you advice or suggest treatments, such as cough medicine and lozenges. These treatments do not stop a cough. But treatment can help you cough less or soothe your throat.
If a child under age 12 has a cough, check the product label or ask your pharmacist for advice about treatment. Some cough medicines are not suitable for young children.
Non-urgent advice: Contact a GP if you:
- have a cough for more than 3 weeks (persistent cough)
- have a very bad cough or a cough that quickly gets worse
- cannot stop coughing
- have asthma
- have chest pain
- lost weight for no reason
- have swollen glands - the side of your neck feels swollen and painful
- find it hard to breathe
- have a weak immune system, for example because of chemotherapy or diabetes
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment if you:
- cough up blood
What happens at your appointment
To find out the cause of the cough, your GP may:
- take a sample of any mucus
- listen to your chest
- order an x-ray, allergy test or a test to see how well your lungs work
- refer you to hospital to see a specialist, but this is rare
Your GP may recommend treatment depending on the cause of your cough.
What causes coughs
The cause of most coughs is a viral infection, such as cold or flu.
Other causes include:
- smoking
- heartburn (acid reflux)
- allergies - such as hay fever
- infections - such as bronchitis
- mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose (postnasal drip)
A cough is very rarely a sign of something serious such as lung cancer.
