Coughing can be an irritating symptom that is difficult to ignore. However, coughs do not always indicate the presence of an illness. Learn more about the causes of a cough and when you should seek medical treatment for a cough at urgent care.
What Causes a Cough
Coughing is simply the contraction of your lungs in response to an irritant. Your body coughs as a mechanism to get rid of debris, mucus, infections, and anything else that may cause damage to the lungs. This means that coughs can be caused by a wide variety of factors. There are various environmental factors like dust, smoke, cold air, and allergens that could irritate your airways and cause you to cough. Coughing can also be caused by an infection such as a virus that causes a build-up of mucus or causes lung irritation. Both environmental factors as well as illnesses can cause long-term persistent coughing.
Is a Cough Contagious?
Whether a cough is contagious or not depends on what is causing it. Certain environmental factors such as allergens could make multiple people in a household cough, but it does not mean that they have all caught the same illness. Determining what is causing your cough is easy by receiving a physical exam and diagnostic testing by a medical professional.
Coughs due to illnesses most often suggest the presence of a viral infection. Common illnesses such as the cold and flu are caused by viral infections that can cause you to cough. Although different illnesses may cause their own unique symptoms, coughing accompanied by additional symptoms such as fatigue, sore throat, headaches, body aches or a fever should be evaluated by a medical professional to rule out illness.
When To Seek Medical Care for a Cough
In most cases, coughing is a mild symptom that can be managed at home without medical intervention. However, certain conditions or symptoms may indicate a more serious infection that requires medical intervention. You should seek medical attention if you have any of the following symptoms in addition to your cough:
- Coughing up green mucus
- Shortness of breath
- Wheezing
- Trouble breathing
- Fever
- Chest Pain
- Coughing lasts more than two weeks
Get Same-Day Illness Diagnosis & Treatment at AFC Urgent Care Aurora City Center
If you’re experiencing coughing, it could be caused by a variety of different conditions or illnesses. Getting a thorough medical exam and diagnostic testing to identify the cause of the cough is the fastest way to treat it. At AFC Urgent Care Aurora City Center, we strive to ensure that getting comprehensive medical care is quick and affordable. Simply walk into our clinic any day of the week for same-day medical care, or pre-register your visit online.
When you’re feeling under the weather, visit AFC Urgent Care Aurora City Center for reliable medical care on a walk-in basis. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer low-cost treatment for patients who are paying out of pocket for their medical care. For additional information regarding our clinic, please contact us directly by calling 303-529-1100.
