Cough

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Coughing?

Coughing helps clear the large breathing passages of secretions, foreign particles, bacteria and viruses.
Pharmacist

There are dry (no mucus) and productive (brings up mucus) cough.



Coughing lady

Before you check with a pharmacist on what to take for this cough over-the-counter, let's make sure this is not an emergency or a serious situation.

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Cough

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With this cough, are you experiencing shortness of breath?

Or difficulty breathing?
Pharmacist

 

Seek emergency room visit.
Pharmacist

Ambulance

Here is why:

  • Need to rule out serious situation going on.

Note:
We do not advice continuing for now. You should only continue if you are not experiencing the question asked.


ER

 

Did you break out in hives with this cough?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • looking at a possible allergic reaction that can be dangerous.

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Are you also experiencing swollen face?

Or swollen throat?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or the emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • looking at a possible allergic reaction that can be dangerous or a heart attack going on here.
  • Need to rule out a heart attack going on.

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What about difficulty swallowing and you don't have a sore throat?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or the emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible anaphylactic reaction going on.

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Does it feel like a tight band around the chest with this cough?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or emergency room.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Symptom of a heart attack.

Nearest Clinic

 

Those were to rule out emergency situations.
Pharmacist

Emergency situations that involve coughing include anaphylactic reactions and heart attack.

Let's continue and see how to take care of this cough of yours.

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Cough

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Need a doctor?

Do you also have fever with this cough?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • You may be looking at a bacterial infection.

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Are you coughing up blood?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.
Pharmacist

Especially if you are experiencing:

  • weight loss
  • fever
  • night sweats.

You may be looking at TB


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When breathing in, do you make high pitched sound?
(called stridor)
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Stridor is a symptom, so the cause need to be found.
  • Possible anaphylactic reaction.
  • Possible swelling or severe fluid accumulation in the airways.

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Do you cough up thick, foul-smelling, yellowish-green mucus?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible bacteria infection
  • Need to rule out pneumonia.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is this a violent cough that begins suddenly?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call the doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible bronchitis
  • Possible spasm in the throat
  • Be prepared to go from doctor to doctor trying to find out the cause.

Nearest Clinic

 

Do you have a history of heart disease and your legs are swollen?

Or cough gets worse when you lie down?
Pharmacist

 

Seek emergency room or call the doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • May be signs of congestive heart failure.

Nearest Clinic

 

Is this cough worse at night or in the early morning?

When you first wake up?
Pharmacist

 

Seek urgent care or call your doctor.
Pharmacist

Here is why:

  • Possible acid reflux (GERD).

Suspect GERD especially if you also have burning chest or abdominal pain and a sour taste in the mouth when you wake up.

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Is the cough dry (no mucus) or productive? (brings up mucus)
Pharmacist

Dry Productive

 

 

 

 

Cough

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Dry cough.

Dry cough is an attempt to clear a foreign sensation in the throat.
Pharmacist

This sensation can be a result of the throat and airways getting inflamed as in the beginning of a cold or flu or with inhaled pollens and so on.

Let's see what may be causing the dry cough.

 

Did you just start taking a new prescription medication?
Pharmacist

No.

 

Yes?
See if your medication can cause cough by checking with your pharmacist.
Pharmacist

 

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Cough

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What about heartburn or GERD. Do you get one often?
Pharmacist

 

Yes?
This can lead to dry cough.
Pharmacist

 

There are other causes of dry cough not mentioned.
Pharmacist

For instance a small study has shown that dry cough can be caused by a defficiency of vitamin B12. (Bucca CB et al)

Your dry cough may mean you are coming down with a cold or flu.

If there is fever, we recommend you go to the nearest urgent care clinic. It is going to be more that a cold.

Assuming the cough is due to viral infection or that you are coming down with a cold, let's see what a pharmacist recommend over-the-counter to take care of this.

Urgent Care Continue

 

 

 

 

Cough

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Productive cough.

Symptom of respiratory infections, Allergies, and heart conditions.
Pharmacist

If you have a cold or flu, it is usually in the middle of the illness as the throat is trying to get rid of all the mucus that has been produced.

It is important to thin the mucus and expectorate it (bring it up).

A thick mucus could accumulate and block the respiratory pathways.

Moreover, you want to bring it up and out rather than let it carry all the bacteria and viruses to the lungs thereby providing a risk for pneumonia.

Let's see if a pharmacist has any suggestions on what over-the-counter medications you can use to achieve this goals.

Urgent Care Continue

 

 

 

Cough

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How long?

On what day is this cough?
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