[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/01\/when-to-worry-about-a-cough\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/01\/when-to-worry-about-a-cough\/","headline":"When Is a Cough More Than a Cough?","name":"When Is a Cough More Than a Cough?","description":"Does that annoying, hacking cough you\u2019ve been dealing with refuse to go away? If you are also experiencing wheezing, shortness of breath, or weight loss, it could be an indicator of something more serious. \u201cIf a cough goes on more than a couple of weeks, contact your primary care provider to be evaluated,\u201d says Joseph […]","datePublished":"2016-01-04","dateModified":"2021-04-23","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","name":"UPMC Harrisburg","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/campaigns\/southcentral-pa","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-harrisburg\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/how-to-avoid-getting-sick.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/how-to-avoid-getting-sick.jpg","height":325,"width":753},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/01\/when-to-worry-about-a-cough\/","about":["Cold and Flu","Health Topics A-Z"],"wordCount":347,"keywords":["cold and flu","Pinnacle Health"],"articleBody":"Does that annoying, hacking cough you\u2019ve been dealing with refuse to go away? If you are also experiencing wheezing, shortness of breath, or weight loss, it could be an indicator of something more serious.\u201cIf a cough goes on more than a couple of weeks, contact your primary care provider to be evaluated,\u201d says Joseph Cincotta, MD, physician at PinnacleHealth Shepherdstown Family Practice. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to just treat the symptoms and mask a more serious condition.\u201dYour cough could be caused by a variety of conditions, including the flu, bronchitis, or pneumonia. Visiting your doctor is the most effective way to determine the cause, as examinations and diagnostic testing are often necessary to distinguish between bronchitis and pneumonia.These telltale signs of more serious illnesses could help you determine when a visit with your doctor is needed:Flu\u2014A main indicator of the flu is how suddenly it strikes. With its rapid onset over a matter of hours, the flu can take someone who is feeling perfectly fine and make him or her quickly feel miserable with high fever, headache, body aches, coughing, and head congestion. Flu sufferers may also experience a sore throat.Bronchitis\u2014This condition typically develops as a secondary infection to colds or flu-like illnesses. Affecting the larger breathing passages, it causes symptoms such as chest discomfort, wheezing, fatigue, and low-grade fever.Pneumonia\u2014This serious ailment can be either bacterial or viral. Many viral pneumonia symptoms look like early symptoms of the flu, while bacterial pneumonia often causes a higher fever along with profuse sweating and increased heart rate as well as traditional symptoms such as cough, chills, and shortness of breath.\u201cIf you have questions about your ailment, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to your primary care provider. Also, understand that most illnesses resolve themselves within a week or two with supportive measures such as eating right, getting enough rest, drinking enough fluids, and appropriate over-the-counter treatment. Antibiotics aren\u2019t always necessary.\u201dDon\u2019t have a primary care physician? Click here for more information on Primary Care at PinnacleHealth."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2016","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"01","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/\/01\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"When Is a Cough More Than a Cough?","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2016\/01\/when-to-worry-about-a-cough\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]