A productive cough is a wet cough; it causes the body to expel mucus. A nonproductive cough, on the other hand, is a dry cough and does not bring up phlegm. A cough from a cold is typically treated with over-the-counter OTC medications, but there are many varieties to choose from with different active ingredients—some of which are more appropriate for nonproductive vs. A nonproductive cough is one that does not bring up any mucus or other secretions.
Also known as a dry cough, a nonproductive cough often is caused by some sort of irritation in the throat. Many people describe the irritation as a "tickling" or "scratchy" sensation. While a cold is a common cause of a dry cough, a nonproductive cough may also be due to swelling of the airways, a condition often characteristic of asthma and bronchitis.
Allergies, the flu, coronavirus , or other upper respiratory infection may also trigger a dry cough. A cough that brings up mucus or other fluid, including blood, is a productive cough. It is often referred to as a chesty or wet cough because you can literally hear a gurgling obstruction during a cough. Most coughs caused by cold or flu will go away after a few days. But if a cough is productive, lasts more than a few weeks, and involves fever, greenish-yellow phlegm, and shortness of breath, it may be due to a lung infection of some sort.
Pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD , and cystic fibrosis are among the other possible causes of a productive cough.
GERD can also sometimes cause a chesty cough if there is severe inflammatory damage to the esophagus. If you have a productive cough, your healthcare provider will want to know what the secretion looks like and how long you've had it. Do your best to take note of this information. What you think is a cough from the common cold could be something more serious.
If your cough persists, is severe, or rapidly worsens, talk to your healthcare provider who may recommend being tested for influenza or COVID If you have a dry cough, your healthcare provider may perform tests to rule out other conditions including:. Less commonly, heart failure, a collapsed lung, or lung cancer can manifest with a persistent dry cough. If these are suspected, your healthcare provider may recommend imaging tests, such as chest X-ray, computed tomography CT , and magnetic resonance imaging MRI , and other tests.
If you have a wet cough, your healthcare provider may perform tests to diagnose the cause of a productive cough including:. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.
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The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Mild: How high do you think the fever is? Mild or low. How long have you had a fever?
Less than 2 days 48 hours. At least 2 days but less than 1 week. Do you have a health problem or take medicine that weakens your immune system? Do you have shaking chills or very heavy sweating?
Shaking chills are a severe, intense form of shivering. Heavy sweating means that sweat is pouring off you or soaking through your clothes. Are you coughing up mucus, phlegm say "flem" , or blood from your lungs?
This is called a productive cough. Mucus or blood draining down your throat from your nose because of a cold, a nosebleed, or allergies is not the same thing. Are you coughing up blood? This means blood that is coming up from your chest or throat.
Blood that is draining down from your nose into your throat because of a nosebleed, for example is not the same thing. How much blood is there? A lot of bright red blood [2 tsp 10 mL or more]. Streaks of bright red blood. Specks or spots of blood. Has this been going on for more than 2 days? Do you take a medicine that affects the blood's ability to clot? This may include blood thinners and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
These medicines can cause bleeding and can make it harder to control bleeding. Is this cough normal for you because you have a lung problem like chronic bronchitis or emphysema? Some people with chronic lung problems have a productive cough all the time. Have you been coughing up phlegm for more than 3 days? Did the cough start after a recent choking episode? Have you had a cough for more than 2 weeks? Is your cough:. Getting worse? These include: Your age.
Babies and older adults tend to get sicker quicker. Your overall health. If you have a condition such as diabetes, HIV, cancer, or heart disease, you may need to pay closer attention to certain symptoms and seek care sooner. Medicines you take. Certain medicines, such as blood thinners anticoagulants , medicines that suppress the immune system like steroids or chemotherapy, herbal remedies, or supplements can cause symptoms or make them worse. Recent health events , such as surgery or injury.
These kinds of events can cause symptoms afterwards or make them more serious. Your health habits and lifestyle , such as eating and exercise habits, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual history, and travel. Try Home Treatment You have answered all the questions. Try home treatment to relieve the symptoms.
Call your doctor if symptoms get worse or you have any concerns for example, if symptoms are not getting better as you would expect. You may need care sooner. If you're not sure if a fever is high, moderate, or mild, think about these issues: With a high fever : You feel very hot. It is likely one of the highest fevers you've ever had. High fevers are not that common, especially in adults.
With a moderate fever : You feel warm or hot. You know you have a fever. With a mild fever : You may feel a little warm. You think you might have a fever, but you're not sure.
Long-term alcohol and drug problems. Steroid medicines, which may be used to treat a variety of conditions. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy for cancer. Other medicines used to treat autoimmune disease. Medicines taken after organ transplant. Not having a spleen. Symptoms of difficulty breathing can range from mild to severe. For example: You may feel a little out of breath but still be able to talk mild difficulty breathing , or you may be so out of breath that you cannot talk at all severe difficulty breathing.
Severe trouble breathing means: You cannot talk at all. You have to work very hard to breathe. You feel like you can't get enough air.
You do not feel alert or cannot think clearly. Moderate trouble breathing means: It's hard to talk in full sentences.
It's hard to breathe with activity. Mild trouble breathing means: You feel a little out of breath but can still talk. It's becoming hard to breathe with activity.
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