Signs Your Cough Needs to be Checked by a Doctor

Coughing is something you're likely to experience from time to time. In 2021, approximately 598,591 people were diagnosed with acute respiratory infections, making it the most common illness in the Philippines1. Whether it’s a dry cough or a cough with phlegm, coughing can be an inconvenience or a symptom of something more serious. In this article, we’ll help you determine when it’s time to see a doctor.

What Causes Coughing?

Before anything else, let’s get back to basics. What's a cough and what causes it? A cough is a reflex action that helps clear your throat and airways of irritants, mucus, or foreign particles. In many cases, it’s a protective mechanism to keep your lungs and throat clear².

Common causes of coughing include:

• Infections such as the common cold, influenza, and acute bronchitis³, are some of the most common causes of acute cough. These infections usually affect the upper respiratory tract and often lead to symptoms like coughing, sore throat, and congestion.
• Allergies to dust, pollen, or pet dander. A study from Eun-Jung Jo and Woo-Jung Song highlighted that chronic coughing is often linked to allergic reactions, especially in areas with high environmental pollutants⁴.
• Irritants like smoke, pollution, or strong odors. Breathing in air pollution over time, like tiny particles, smog, and harmful gases, can lead to serious lung problems such as chronic bronchitis, asthma, and other long-term breathing issues⁵. These conditions often feature persistent cough as a primary symptom.
• Acid reflux—or its chronic cousin GERD—which can trigger a chronic cough as stomach acid irritates the esophagus. A study published in The American Journal of Gastroenterology notes that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a frequent cause of chronic cough in non-smokers⁶.

For most people, these causes are temporary, and the cough resolves on its own with some rest and proper care.

What to Do If You Have a Cough

Many types of cough can be managed effectively at home, especially if they’re caused by a mild illness like a cold or seasonal allergies. Here are a few signs your cough might be manageable without a doctor’s visit:

• Dry Cough from Irritants: A dry cough with no other symptoms may be caused by irritants like smoke and can often be soothed with over-the-counter remedies, lozenges, and by staying hydrated. Dextromerhorphan HBr (Strepsils) Dry Cough is an antitussive lozenge that provides effective relief from dry cough in as fast as 60 seconds. It is a cough suppressant packed with dextromethorphan hydrobromide which reduces the urge to cough.

• Cough After a Cold or Flu: It’s normal to have a lingering cough after recovering from a cold or flu. This is often due to leftover mucus in your airways and should subside in a few days. For chesty coughs, you can try Ambroxol Hydrochloride (Strepsils) Chesty Cough, which is a mucolytic lozenge which helps clear your airways and controls chesty cough caused by excessive viscous mucus.

• Cough from Mild Allergies: If you’ve been sneezing along with coughing and dealing with an itchy throat, you’re probably dealing with an allergy. Simple lifestyle changes like using air purifiers, staying indoors on high-pollen days, or taking antihistamines can help.
  While these coughs are uncomfortable, they usually resolve on their own with home remedies and time. But what if they don’t?

Signs Your Cough Needs Medical Attention

While cough can be self-managed and be treated with simple home remedies and plenty of rest, there are clear warning signs that indicate it’s time to see a doctor. Here are a few things to watch out for:

Cough Lasting More Than Three Weeks:

If you find yourself thinking, “Why is my cough not going away?”, it could be a sign of an underlying condition. A lingering cough that persists for more than three weeks, also known as a chronic cough, may indicate conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis, or even tuberculosis. According to a 2019 review published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, a chronic cough often suggests a more significant respiratory issue such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, or even more severe conditions⁷.

Cough with Chest Pain

A dry cough accompanied by chest pain could signal something more serious, such as pneumonia or a heart issue. The primary symptoms of pneumonia include a sharp or stabbing chest pain that gets worse when you breathe deeply or cough.13 If you're experiencing this, it’s important to seek medical help immediately.

Cough with Blood or Phlegm

Coughing up blood or a significant amount of phlegm could be a sign of a severe infection or another medical condition (pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis). If you are coughing up blood, seek medical attention immediately.

Shortness of Breath

If your cough is accompanied by difficulty breathing, wheezing, or shortness of breath, it may be an indicator of asthma or a respiratory infection that requires medical treatment. Asthma is the second most frequent cause of chronic cough, especially in individuals with no other symptoms⁸.

Unexplained Weight Loss

If your cough is paired with unexplained weight loss, it could signal a more serious issue, such as lung disease or even cancer. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a condition that makes breathing difficult over time9. One sign of more advanced COPD can be weight loss, but this usually happens in more severe cases. Smoking is the most common cause of COPD, and early signs include trouble breathing and a persistent cough, sometimes called a "smoker’s cough. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cough

1. Can a dry cough cause chest pain?

Yes, a dry cough can cause chest pain. When you have a persistent or vigorous dry cough, it can strain your chest muscles and the tissues lining your lungs, leading to chest pain¹⁰.

2. What should I do if my cough is not going away?

If your cough lasts longer than three weeks, it’s time to visit a doctor. Chronic coughs may indicate underlying conditions such as asthma, infections, or severe lung disease.

3.  Is coughing a symptom of COVID-19?

Yes, a persistent dry cough is one of the symptoms of COVID-19¹¹, especially when combined with fever, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell. If you suspect you might have COVID-19, it is best to get tested and self-isolate while awaiting results.¹¹

Key Takeaways

• A Cough is common and often manageable at home, but persistent or severe symptoms should be taken seriously.
• Dextromerhorphan HBr (Strepsils) Dry Cough provides dry cough relief and Ambroxol Hydrochloride (Strepsils) Chesty Cough provides chesty cough relief in as fast as 60 seconds.
• Common causes of coughing include infections, allergies, and irritants.
• If your cough lasts more than three weeks or is paired with symptoms like chest pain, blood, or shortness of breath, it’s important to see a doctor.

By staying informed and knowing when to seek medical help, you can prevent potential complications and ensure your cough gets the right treatment. Stay healthy!

Resources

1. (2023). Leading causes of morbidity in the Philippines by disease. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1118585/philippines-leading-cause-morbidity-by-disease/
2. PubMed Central. (2019). Cough as a reflex arc and defense mechanism in the respiratory tract. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6502102/
3. info. (2023). Cough caused by a virus. Retrieved from https://patient.info/chest-lungs/cough-leaflet/cough-caused-by-a-virus
4. PubMed Central. (2019). Chronic cough and its implications. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6494656/
5. American Lung Association. (2023). State of the Air: Health risks associated with air pollution. Retrieved from https://www.lung.org/research/sota/health-risks
6. National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2019). Understanding cough and its mechanisms. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK441938/
7. The Lancet. (2019). Global childhood health and chronic respiratory conditions. Retrieved from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(19)30322-0/abstract
8. (2023). Chronic cough in adults: Beyond the basics. Retrieved from https://www.uptodate.com/contents/chronic-cough-in-adults-beyond-the-basics/
9. (2023). COPD and weight loss. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/copd/weight-loss
10. Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Dry cough and chest tightness. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/21888-dry-cough-and-chest-tightness
11. Medical News Today. (2023). COVID-19 and dry cough. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/dry-cough-covid#cough-and-covid-19
12. Mayo Clinic Staff. (n.d.). Tuberculosis: Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/tuberculosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20351250
13. American Lung Association. (n.d.). Pneumonia symptoms and diagnosis. Retrieved April 16, 2025, from https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pneumonia/symptoms-and-diagnosis