If you are dealing with a cough chances are you'll feeling a little worse for wear. The good news is that coughs tend to disappear within 4 weeks, if not sooner. This article will help you to understand when to call our Home GP service for a cough in Manilva .
What Causes a Cough?
Coughs can be caused by a cold or even the flu. However, there are other causes associated with this condition. These include:
- Heartburn
- Allergies such as hay fever
- Mucus that has dripped down to the back of the throat
If you are worried about your cough, please note that they are very rarely a sign of lung cancer or other serious conditions.
When you should call our Home GP service for cough in Manilva
If you have had a cough for more than 3 weeks you should consider calling our Home GP service for a cough in Manilva.
You should also consider calling a GP if:
Your cough has been persistent and it has lasted for more than 3 weeks.
- Your cough is particularly bad.
- Your cough gets a lot worse very quickly. For example, if you cannot stop coughing or you have a hacking cough.
- You feel quite unwell.
- There are pains in your chest.
- You are finding it hard to breathe.
- You are losing weight and you're not sure why.
- The glands on the side of your neck are swollen and painful.
- You have diabetes or you're undergoing chemotherapy and your immune system is weakened.
- You are coughing up blood.
If you have a cough for more than a week your chest muscles might start to hurt if you are coughing frequently. This could be a sign of a chest infection. You will, therefore, need to speak to your GP so you can be prescribed the right medication.
How to Treat a Cough
You don't typically need to see a doctor if you have a cough. However, you might want to consider the following treatments:
- Drinking plenty of fluids - Drinking plenty of fluids can help the mucus to work its way loose.
- Rest - This will help you to get better as your body will be working harder to keep you well.
- Sucking cough sweets
- Taking cough syrup
- Taking Pelargonium, a medicinal plant
- Drinking hot lemon and honey.
Please note, the last two treatments show little evidence that they work. However, they have been known to help some people.
If you have a cough please use our Home GP service for a cough in Manilva as we might be able to help you. If you have any concerns about your cough or you are taking medication for an existing medical condition please contact us as soon as you can.