A medical professional has emphasized the importance of not overlooking a specific cold symptom if it persists for an extended period.
Common cold indicators include a runny nose, sneezing, and coughing, especially during the colder months. However, if these symptoms do not subside, it could be cause for concern.
Dr. Shireen, for instance, highlights a particular symptom that should not be disregarded if it lasts for three weeks or more.
Sharing her insights on TikTok with an audience of over 24,000 followers, Dr. Shireen advises when it is necessary to consult a GP.
“There is one thing I wish everyone knew about coughs – and it’s really simple. If you’ve had a persistent cough for more than three weeks, you need to see a doctor,” Dr. Shireen stated.
“There are lots of different things that can cause a chronic cough like asthma, reflux, respiratory tract infection. But, it is also important that we rule out things like lung cancer.”
Dr. Shireen further explained: “If someone has a persistent cough, what we [as doctors] usually do is first examine them and send them for a chest X-ray. It’s a really quick, easy test that we can do to look at someone’s lungs and make sure nothing is going on there that we need to be concerned about.”
Although occasional coughing is typical, Mayo Clinic cautions that a cough persisting for several weeks or one producing discolored or bloody mucus could indicate a condition requiring medical evaluation.
The NHS also advises individuals with a cough accompanied by unexplained weight loss or those with compromised immune systems, such as from chemotherapy or diabetes, to consult their GP.
Dr. Malathy Munisamy previously informed The Mirror that ‘standard coughs’ generally resolve on their own within a few weeks and are ‘often harmless’.
For coughs resulting from a cold or flu, accompanied by symptoms like sneezing, headaches, muscle aches, and fever, ‘rest, hydration, paracetamol, ibuprofen, or cold relief medication are usually effective treatments’.
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On the other hand, Cleveland Clinic notes: “Having a cough often means nothing serious. It’s normal (and helpful) to cough in certain situations. Coughing helps you get rid of things in your throat and airways that are irritating or making it harder to breathe.
“If you also have other symptoms like trouble breathing, fever, trouble eating or sleeping, or you’re coughing up bloody or colored sputum, call your healthcare provider for advice. Because young kids can’t tell us what they’re feeling, it’s a good idea to call your child’s provider if they have a cough and fever or a cough that sounds uncomfortable or concerning to you.”