Cough and choked throat? Signs that it might be something serious

New Delhi: The body's natural response to an irritant is a cough, which is triggered by receptors in the throat that detect tickling, dryness, or obstructions, among other sensations.

When someone coughs, their lungs aggressively and quickly release air, sometimes up to 100 miles per hour to clear the obstruction in their airway. The body may cough for a variety of causes, such as infections, diseases, chronic ailments, stomach problems, and certain drugs. This article will explore the main causes of coughing and possible treatments.

Most of the time, a cough will go away on its own and is nothing to worry about. But you should see your healthcare provider for symptoms such as coughing up blood or discoloured mucus, high fever or night sweats, or a cough that lasts for weeks.

A cough is sometimes a symptom of something as simple as seasonal allergies or the common cold. However, there are many types of illnesses and conditions that may be the cause—some of which may require urgent treatment. Signs of an emergency include trouble breathing; coughing up pink, frothy mucus; or chest pain.

In general, a cough rarely requires medical attention and normally goes away on its own. But if you have any of the following symptoms—a high temperature, night sweats, coughing up blood or discoloured mucus, or a chronic cough that lasts for several weeks—you should see a doctor.
A cough can be a symptom of a few illnesses and conditions, some of which may require emergency medical attention, in addition to minor problems like seasonal allergies or a regular cold, breathing difficulties, and coughing up.

Dr RR Dutta, HOD, Internal Medicine, Paras Health, Gurugram says, “Mucus, commonly known as sputum or phlegm, is a substance secreted by the cells lining the respiratory tract. Sputum that becomes yellow, green, or tan in colour usually indicates the presence of white blood cells that are fighting an infection. If you have been coughing up discoloured mucus for longer than a week or if you have a fever, you should see a doctor because this could be a sign of pneumonia or another lung condition. Pink, foamy mucus requires emergency department attention right away since it may be a sign of heart failure or pulmonary edoema.”

There are several reasons why someone would cough up blood, including lung cancer, asthma, bronchiectasis (damaged airways), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and airway inflammation (as in bronchitis or pneumonia). To identify the underlying cause of blood in the cough, seeking medical assistance is important due to the danger of these potential causes.

A cough that is accompanied by wheezing and dyspnea may be a sign of acid reflux, asthma, or an allergic reaction. In these situations, seeking medical advice from a physician becomes essential to discuss possible tests to rule out infections such as bronchitis or more serious illnesses like pneumonia. Seek emergency medical attention if you're having serious breathing problems or are choking.

When a person is experiencing a cough that lasts from 2 to 4 weeks, he should immediately reach out for assistance as a subacute cough, which may be caused by a post-infectious cough or postnasal drip.