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Having a cough is an interruption to your routine, especially if your cough is painful and persistent. It isn’t uncommon to have a cough without knowing exactly why or what caused it, but until you know, it’s almost impossible to make it go away. Let’s take a look at some of the things that could be causing your cough.
Common Coughs
Coughs can come along with many illnesses including the flu, common cold, and bronchitis. Those illnesses are caused by viruses and bacteria and the cough is just one of many symptoms. You may also be suffering from seasonal allergies or exposure to other irritants that are making you cough. Certain lifestyle choices, like smoking, can bring on a persistent cough that never seems to heal or go away.
Whooping Cough
Arguably the most concerning cause of a cough is something called whooping cough or pertussis. Whooping cough is also caused by a virus, but it’s much more serious than the common cold. Whooping cough got its name because the virus actually forces you to cough so much and so hard that you will cough with no air in your lungs, causing a sharp inhale with a whooping sound. Whooping cough is so hard on the body that it can even result in bruised and cracked ribs. When infants are exposed to whooping cough, it’s especially serious. It can cause difficulty breathing for the infants and result in hospitalization or even death. There is a whooping cough vaccine available to infants and adults. Pregnant women generally get a booster of the vaccine to improve the infant’s ability to fight off the virus until they can get vaccinated themselves. Whooping cough reminds people why it’s so important not to touch or kiss babies when you aren’t feeling well. Something that just seems like a cough to an adult could result in death for an infant.
Getting Treated for Your Cough
If you have a cough and you’re unsure what’s causing it, seek the help of a medical professional. Until you can get seen, be sure to always cover your mouth and nose with the crook of your arm when you cough to avoid exposing other people to a potential virus. Visiting an urgent care center to get treated for your cough makes it a quick and easy experience so you can start feeling better as quickly as possible!
Telemedicine Urgent Care for Cough
As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to spread through the state, the team at AFC Urgent Care Watertown is doing everything possible to ensure patients have accessible and safe care. That is why we encourage patients with a cough to book a telemedicine care appointment in Watertown, MA! Patients that can need care can do so using our digital appointment tool to get care and treatment right in their home. If you need to book an appointment use the links on our home page to get started!
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