Cough

Cough Symptoms

As we all know, a cough is a burst of air being expelled from the lungs due to a sudden contraction in the chest area. A cough can result from many different causes. Most often, the body is trying to expel sputum or some other irritant or foreign substance, especially something that is blocking your air ways.
 

Cough Characteristics and Cough Symptoms

A cough is usually accompanied by or characterized by:

Phlegm, mucus, or sputum

This is the "gunky" stuff is expectorated or "spit up" from the respiratory tract. It is generally greenish-yellow, sticky and unpleasant to look at.

See productive cough or "wet cough" below.

Chest Congestion

Cest congestion typically accompanies a cough. This congestion is often caughed by tightening of the airways and/or the presence of mucus in the respiratory system.

Wheezing

Wheezing is a continuous whistling sound that occurs during breathing in a person with a respiratory problem. Part of the respiratory tract becomes inflammed, narrowed or obstructed.
 

Cough Diagnosis: Acute Cough vs Chronic Cough

There are two general classifications of cough: acute or chronic.

An acute cough is the type that usually accompanies a cold or the flu, and tends to last for 1-3 weeks. This type of cough is sometimes described as a congestive cough because it's due to congestion. It's also sometimes referred to as a "chesty" cough.

A cough that is triggered by chest congestion is characterized by the accumulation of phlegm and mucus. Coughing helps dislodge these.

A "congestion cough" is further divided into two categories: productive and non-productive.

Productive or "Wet Cough"

This type of cough is sometimes described as a "wet" cough because it produces a wet, sticky greenish-yellow mucus or phlegm.

In a productive or wet cough, the patient can feel the mucus in the chest and may feel it moving when he or she coughs (or even breathes).

Coughing up phlegm or mucus is a way of expelling it from the respiratory system.

This type of cough is usually accompanied by mucus in the nasal passages or a "runny nose."

Non-Productive or Dry Cough (Sometimes Called a "Hacking Cough")

With a non-productive or dry cough, the cough sufferer will cough but won't feel the movement of phlegm or mucus when the cough occurs.

This type of cough is sometimes referred to as a "hacking" cough.

A chronic, hacking cough is usually a non-productive or "dry" cough in which there's no mucus or phlegm. A dry cough isn't caused by a cold or influenza, but results from other health conditions like asthma, allergies, COPD, acid reflux, excessive smoking or some other ailment.

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