Ailments and Situations - Cough - What to Expect

What to Expect:

When dealing with a cough, knowing what to expect all depends on the cause.

If a cough is productive (bringing up mucous), it may be best not to suppress it, as this is a way for your body to clear out the irritant. You naturopath or other health practitioner may advise you to suppress the cough if it is making you very fatigued or significantly disturbs your sleep.

If a cough is non-productive (not bringing up mucous), your naturopath or other health practitioner may suggest suppressing it.

Generally, if your cough is not causing a great disturbance to you, it may be best just to leave it alone.

NOTE: See your naturopath or other health practitioner provider if:

You are running a temperature of more than 38.5^oC (101^oF).

You are coughing up thick, yellow/green phlegm.

You are having drenching sweats at night whereby your sheets and pajamas are soaking wet.

A violent cough begins suddenly with a high pitched sound when inhaling (you may have inhaled a small object -- treat as an emergency).

Blood is brought up with the cough (treat as an emergency).

A cough begins in an infant less than three months of age.

You have shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

The cough accompanies unintentional weight loss.

The cough lasts more than 10 days