Despite how uncomfortable and annoying a cough can be, it isn’t usually a sign of serious illness. Understanding the common causes of a cough will help put your mind at ease next time you feel that familiar tickle in your throat. From acute illness to chronic conditions, do you know what’s causing your cough?
Common Acute Causes of Cough
Acute conditions are those that happen randomly and don’t last a long time. An illness is considered acute if it lasts less than 3 weeks. Common acute causes of a cough include:
- The common cold
- The flu
- Covid-19
- Pneumonia
- Whooping cough
- Airborne irritants – dust, smoke, etc.
Common Chronic Causes of Cough
A chronic condition that causes a cough is something that’s recurring and long-lasting. Chronic conditions affect millions of people each year. Some chronic conditions that can cause a cough are:
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Sinus drainage
Chronic health conditions should be managed by you and your medical team to devise an effective treatment plan. Having a cough because of your chronic condition should not be something that’s always there if you condition is well managed. Instead, a cough will present during a flare up of your chronic condition then go away once it’s controlled.
When to be Concerned About Your Cough
If you cough is lasting more than 1-2 weeks, causing pain, or continuing to get worse, it’s wise to visit an urgent care center for a closer look. Try home remedies and over the counter cough medications for symptom management before going to an urgent care center. This will give them a better idea of how severe your cough is so they can choose an appropriate treatment method.
An urgent care center can test for acute conditions like the flu and covid-19 or diagnose chronic conditions like allergies and asthma. If the urgent care center determines a chronic condition is the cause, you’ll likely be referred to a specialist. They can offer scripts in the meantime to manage your symptoms though! Some acute conditions require antibiotics to cure an infection in your body before the cough will dissipate.
Your local urgent care center can also provide you with your 2022 flu vaccine and covid-19 vaccine booster! Contact a nearby urgent care center or stop in today to learn more about the services they offer and start treating your cough effectively.
