Cough Fatigue And Shortness Of Breath
- Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Reviewed on 2/19/2021
These symptoms are common in respiratory conditions such as the common cold or bronchitis. Asthma, a chronic condition, can also cause cough and shortness of breath. Fatigue is a nonspecific symptom that can accompany many different medical conditions. Talk to your doctor if you are experiencing these or other worrisome symptoms.
While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:
When Should I Call My Doctor
If your child shows any of the following signs:
- Fever and is less than 6 months old.
- Fever for more than 72 hours.
- Coughing that wont go away or is severe and causes choking or vomiting.
- Earache.
- Wont stop crying or is very irritable all the time.
- Rapid or difficulty breathing.
- Diarrhea and is younger than 6 months old.
- Bloody or black stools.
- Vomiting for more than 4-6 hours.
- Dehydration .
When Should You Be Worried About A Dry Cough As A Sign Of Covid
If you have trouble breathing, persistent chest pain or pressure, new confusion, blue lips, or cannot stay awake, seek medical attention ASAP.
If you develop a dry cough, its very possible that you could simply be dealing with allergies, being inside all day , or other environmental factors.
But it may also be pointing to COVID-19so its important to pay attention to other signs of the virus, too. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, those symptoms can include but are not limited to:
- Fever or chills
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Any cough thats linked with a fever over 100.4° F should be concerning, Dr. Parikh says. If you feel generally okay, call your doctor instead of rushing to the hospital. A physician will be able to guide you with next steps on getting tested, home isolation tips, and how to treat your symptoms at home if you have a mild case of the virus.
Go here to join Prevention Premium , subscribe to the magazine, or get digital-only access.
Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Extreme Fatigue
Is It Omicron Or A Cold
As we head further into the depths of winter here in the UK there are some pretty nasty colds going around, as well as the perennial flu. The ZOE COVID Study app data tells us the symptoms caused by the current COVID variants are very similar to those of a regular cold. This means that its not possible to know for sure what youve got based on symptoms alone. When the rate of COVID is high, a new sore throat, runny nose or unusual fatigue should be treated as COVID until youve been tested.
Because contributors to the ZOE COVID Study app log any daily symptoms theyre experiencing, as well as any COVID test results, were also able to track the prevalence of non-COVID colds. Just three months ago, around one in 12 people with new respiratory symptoms tested positive for COVID. However, with omicron around 50% of new colds currently are, in fact, COVID.
So if you or a family member are feeling unwell, theres a good chance that it could be COVID, especially if youre snuffling and sneezing a lot. You should stay home and get tested to be sure. Bear in mind that although lateral flow tests are good, especially if you swab both your throat and nose, they are less sensitive than PCR tests. When you do one, try and repeat it in the following days, as a single negative lateral flow result isnt a guarantee that you arent infected.
Suspect A Cold Dont Brush It Off
Have COVID-19 questions?
According to Brian Curtis, MD, vice president of Clinical Specialty Services for OSF HealthCare, a sore throat by itself is typically not something to worry about. Your throat could be irritated from allergies, air pollution or overuse. It could also be due to smoking, in which case the solution is simple . If a lone sore throat lingers longer than a week, however, you should contact your physician.
And if you develop any other symptoms even milder symptoms you typically associate with a common cold you should contact your physician or get tested for COVID-19. The common cold and the virus that causes COVID-19 are both the same type of virus called a coronavirus and can cause similar symptoms.
Mild cases of COVID-19 can even look to an average person exactly like a cold. But if you have a mild case of COVID-19, you could spread the coronavirus to someone who suffers a worse infection. You need to be sure you arent putting others at risk if you have any possible COVID-19 symptoms.
We have to be very vigilant with cold symptoms, Dr. Curtis said. We as a society used to be kind of dismissive of cold symptoms, but we cant be dismissive of them now. If you have just a sore throat with no other symptoms, its less likely to be COVID-19. But with other symptoms, it is possible you have COVID. Sore throat, cough, fever I would be worried about COVID.
Read Also: What Causes Low Energy And Fatigue
Indication Of Heart Failure
A dry cough can be an indication of heart failure. If the heart is not pumping correctly, fluid can build up in the lungs, causing a cough. A cough like this tends to worsen in the morning and may leave you feeling out of breath. If you wake up each morning with a chesty cough, you should see your doctor. This condition may be a sign of heart failure.
Other causes of dry cough include a cold or asthma. The cold or flu may trigger the condition. The symptoms of COVID are similar to those of a chronic respiratory infection. However, COVIDs are more common in the U.S., and the symptoms of these conditions are often more challenging to detect. If your cough does not go out on its own, it could be an indication of a more severe problem.
There are several causes of coughing. It can be a sign of an ongoing condition. Many different factors can cause it. If you have a chronic cough that does not improve after a few days, you should visit a doctor to diagnose and treat it. Your doctor may prescribe an over-the-counter medicine or recommend a healthy diet change.
What Does A Dry Cough Feel Like
In general, it can feel like any cough without the phlegm. You can also feel like youre having dryness, a tickle, or tightness in your chest, Dr. Parikh says.
Ultimately, it feels a lot like your lungs are irritated, says Aline M. Holmes, D.N.P., R.N., a clinical associate professor at Rutgers University School of Nursing. The dry cough people are often experiencing with coronavirus is a very deep, low cough from the bottom of the lungs, she explains.
Also Check: Itchy Skin Sore Joints Fatigue
When To See A Doctor
According to the Mayo Clinic,9 call your physician if you are experiencing:
- Sore throat with tender, swollen lymph nodes
- Sore throat that lasts over 48 hours
- Sore throat with a rash
- Trouble breathing or swallowing
- Fever over 101 degrees F, or a fever lasting for more than 48 hours
It’s important to identify strep throat for a number of reasons. If untreated, strep throat can cause complications such as kidney inflammation and rheumatic fever.
Strep is different from the regular sore throat that usually precedes a flu or a cold because it is bacterial in nature, while the latter is viral. Strep throat is typically more severe and lasts longer as well.
While a regular sore throat might last for one to two days before going away on its own, strep throat usually requires treatment.
What Causes Chronic Coughing
Smoking is a leading cause. Sooner or later, most cigarette smokers develop a chronic “smoker’s cough.” Chemical irritation is responsible but the same noxious chemicals that cause the simple smoker’s cough can lead to far more serious conditions, such as bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, and lung cancer. The chronic cough is always a cause of concern for smokers.
A lingering cough is also a worry for nonsmokers. Fortunately, benign problems are responsible for most chronic coughs in nonsmokers. Benign or not, persistent coughing can cause worry, embarrassment, exhaustion, and more. That’s why chronic coughs should be diagnosed and treated before they linger too long.
Dozens of conditions can cause a recurrent, lingering cough, but the lion’s share are caused by just five: postnasal drip, asthma, gastroesophageal reflux disease , chronic bronchitis, and treatment with ACE inhibitors, used for high blood pressure. Many people have several of these conditions, but in nonsmokers, the first three, singly or in combination, account for nearly all chronic coughs. The major causes of long-term coughing are listed below.
Recommended Reading: Fibromyalgia And Fatigue Center Of Boston
Cough Fatigue Fever And Night Sweats
- Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Reviewed on 12/1/2020
These symptoms are all characteristic of a number of different medical conditions. Fatigue is a nonspecific symptom that can occur with most illnesses. Night sweats can accompany fever of any cause. If you are experiencing these symptoms and they do not improve, seek the advice of your physician.
While the list below can be considered as a guide to educate yourself about these conditions, this is not a substitute for a diagnosis from a health care provider. There are many other medical conditions that also can be associated with your symptoms and signs. Here are a number of those from MedicineNet:
Other Conditions Associated With Body Aches
Many conditions can be associated with body aches or pains. Some of these include:
- Stress
- A reaction or side effect of medication
- Lyme disease
- Viral gastroenteritis
If your symptoms do not go away after five to seven days or appear to be getting worse, or if you’re a part of a high-risk group, you should see a doctor to be diagnosed.
You May Like: Why Do I Have Severe Fatigue
How Are Coronavirus Symptoms Different From Allergy Symptoms What About Flu Colds And Strep Throat
COVID-19 shares symptoms with other conditions such as allergies, the flu or strep throat. It may be very hard to tell the difference between COVID-19 and flu without a test.
If you have symptoms that might be due to the coronavirus, contact a health care provider, describe your symptoms and follow their recommendations.
What Is A Dry Cough Exactly
Theres actually no specific medical criteria to classify a dry cough and a wet cough, explains David Cutler, M.D., a family medicine physician at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Thats because its open to interpretation. Your wet cough might seem like a dry cough to me, he says.
But, in general, a dry cough means youre coughing but nothing is coming up, like phlegm or mucus, says Purvi Parikh, M.D., an allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network. If youre regularly producing phlegm when you cough, youre likely dealing with a wet cough.
Many things can cause a dry cough, including allergies and being indoors with dry air all day , Dr. Holmes says. Any irritation in your throat can also cause a dry cough, she says. Postnasal drip, gastroesophageal reflux , asthma, and smoking are also common triggers.
Recommended Reading: Anti Fatigue Mats For Sale
How Can I Protect My Child
- Washing your hands and your childs hands is the best thing that you can do to stop the spread of germs. Wash your hands after:
- Coughing or sneezing into your hands or wiping your nose.
- Using the toilet or helping your child to use the toilet
- Caring for someone with any kind of infection.
- Cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
- Wiping your childs nose.
- Changing a diaper.
- Handling raw meat.
- Handling pets or animals.
When To Seek Medical Advice
You should contact your GP if you think you or your child has glandular fever, or has a sore throat that is not settling .
They can provide advice and support to help you control your symptoms and reduce the risk of passing the infection on to others.
You should go to your nearest emergency department or dial 999 for an ambulance if you have glandular fever and you develop a rasping breath , have any difficultybreathing or develop a severe abdominal pain.
You should see your GP or call the GP out of hours service if:
- difficulty swallowing fluids is making you dehydrated
- you have abdominal pain
- you become very unwell
These symptoms can be a sign of a complication of glandular fever that may need to be treated in hospital.
Don’t Miss: How I Recovered From Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
What Is A Cough
Although folk wisdom views coughing as a grave portent of illness What did one casket say to the other? “I hear you coffin” the cough is actually a vital player in the body’s defense against disease. Coughing expels mucus, microbes, and foreign particles from the respiratory tract, protecting the lungs from infection and inflammation.
The cough begins with an initial gasp that draws air deep into the lungs. Next, the glottis snaps shut, putting a lid over the trachea, or windpipe. The third step is the forceful contraction of the muscles of the chest cage, abdomen, and diaphragm . In normal breathing, these muscles push air gently from the lungs up through the nose and mouth. But when the glottis is closed, the air can’t move out, so tremendous pressure builds up in the air passages. Finally, the glottis swings open and the air rushes out. And it is quite a rush in a vigorous cough, the air travels out at nearly the speed of sound, creating the barking or whooping noise that we call a cough.
Causes Of Glandular Fever
Glandular fever is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus . This virus is found in the saliva of infected people and can be spread through:
- kissing glandular fever is often called the “kissing disease”
- exposure to coughs and sneezes
- sharing eating and drinking utensils, such as cups, glasses and unwashed cutlery
If you have EBV, it’s a good idea to take steps to avoid infecting others while you are ill, such as not kissing other people.
You May Like: Reasons For Fatigue And Sleepiness
People At Higher Risk From Flu
Anyone can get sick with flu, even healthy people, and serious problems related to flu can happen to anyone at any age, but some people are at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick. This includes people 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions , pregnant people and children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old.
Can You Have Covid
Yes. Symptoms of COVID-19 usually show up from two to 14 days after exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, but some people who are infected do not develop symptoms or feel ill. This is why it is so important to wear a face mask and practice physical distancing and hand hygiene. People can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 and not realize it, but still be able to transmit it to other people.
Recommended Reading: Adrenal Fatigue Supplements Vitamin Shoppe
Healthwhy Early Coronavirus Cases May Have Been Missed
Since that report, other symptoms related to COVID-19 have emerged.
Many patients who’ve either tested positive for the coronavirus, or have been told by their physicians to assume they have it, also develop a headache and sore throat. Others become sick to their stomach with nausea or diarrhea.
Some patients say they have no interest in eating. Many report they’re losing their senses of taste and smell, the British Rhinological Society said recently.
Just this week, a small study published in JAMA Ophthalmology added another potential COVID-19 warning sign: pink eye, also known as conjunctivitis. A third of the 38 patients in the report had the inflammatory eye condition.
But it’s also becoming more clear that some infected people spreading the virus don’t have any symptoms at all.
The Timing Of Symptoms Matters
While the symptoms themselves may overlap a bit, the timing of those symptoms may help you determine what illness your child has. This is called the incubation period – or how long it takes symptoms to appear after exposure.
Though incubation periods can vary, they are roughly:
- 24 to 72 hours for a cold
- 1 to 4 days for influenza
- 2 to 14 days for COVID-19, with an average of 5 days
When possible, try to monitor who your child interacts with and when. By identifying the most recent time your child may have been exposed, you may be able to use that information to help determine which illness your child is experiencing.
Don’t Miss: How To Combat Thyroid Fatigue