A cough, also known as tussis, is a voluntary or involuntary act that clears the throat and breathing passage of foreign particles, microbes, irritants, fluids, and mucus; it is a rapid expulsion of air from the lungs.Encyclopedia Entry for Cough :Cough. Common causes of coughing are: Allergies that involve the nose or sinuses Asthma and COPD (emphysema or chronic bronchitis) The common cold and flu Lung infections such as pneumonia or acute bronchitis Sinusitis with postnasal drip Other causes include: ACE inhibitors (medicines used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, or kidney diseases) Cigarette smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Lung cancer Lung disease such as bronchiectasis or interstitial lung disease.If you have asthma or another chronic lung disease, make sure you are taking medicines prescribed by your health care provider. Here are some tips to help ease your cough: If you have a dry, tickling cough, try cough drops or hard candy. Never give these to a child under age 3, because they can cause choking. Use a vaporizer or take a steamy shower to increase moisture in the air and help soothe a dry throat. Drink plenty of fluids. Liquids help thin the mucus in your throat making it easier to cough it up. DO NOT smoke, and stay away from secondhand smoke. Medicines you can buy on your own include: Guaifenesin helps break up mucus. Follow package instructions on how much to take. DO NOT take more than the recommended amount. Drink lots of fluids if you take this medicine. Decongestants help clear a runny nose and relieve postnasal drip. Check with your provider before taking decongestants if you have high blood pressure. Talk to your child's provider before you give children ages 6 years or younger an over-the-counter cough medicine, even if it is labeled for children. These medicines likely do not work for children, and can have serious side effects. If you have seasonal allergies, such as hay fever: Stay indoors during days or times of the day (usually the morning) when airborne allergens are high. Keep windows closed and use an air conditioner. DO not use fans that draw in air from outdoors. Shower and change your clothes after being outside. If you have allergies year-round, cover your pillows and mattress with dust mite covers, use an air purifier, and avoid pets with fur and other triggers.Call 911 if you have: Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing Hives or a swollen face or throat with difficulty swallowing Call your provider right away if a person with cough has any of the following: Heart disease, swelling in your legs, or a cough that gets worse when you lie down (may be signs of heart failure ) Have come into contact with someone who has tuberculosis Unintentional weight loss or night sweats (could be tuberculosis) An infant younger than 3 months old who has a cough Cough lasts longer than 10 to 14 days Cough that produces blood Fever (may be a sign of a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics) High-pitched sound (called stridor ) when breathing in Thick, foul-smelling, yellowish-green phlegm (could be a bacterial infection) Violent cough that begins rapidly.The provider will perform a physical exam. You will be asked about your cough. Questions may include: When the cough began What it sounds like If there is pattern to it What makes it better or worse If you have other symptoms, such as a fever The provider will examine your ears, nose, throat, and chest. Tests that may be done include: Chest x-ray or CT scan Lung function tests Blood tests Tests to check the heart, such as an echocardiogram Treatment depends on the cause of the cough.Colds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - adult Colds and the flu - what to ask your doctor - child When your baby or infant has a fever.Lungs Lungs.Chung KF, Mazzone SB. Cough.Encyclopedia Entry for Cough :Coughing up blood. Coughing up blood is not the same as bleeding from the mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal tract. Blood that comes up with a cough often looks bubbly because it is mixed with air and mucus. It is most often bright red, although it may be rust-colored. Sometimes the mucus contains only streaks of blood. The outlook depends on what is causing the problem. Most people do well with treatment to treat the symptoms and the underlying disease. People with severe hemoptysis may die.A number of conditions, diseases, and medical tests may make you cough up blood. These include: Blood clot in the lung Breathing food or other material into the lungs (pulmonary aspiration) Bronchoscopy with biopsy Bronchiectasis Bronchitis Cancer Cystic fibrosis Inflammation of the blood vessels in the lung (vasculitis) Injury to the arteries of the lungs Irritation of the throat from violent coughing (small amounts of blood) Pneumonia or other lung infections Pulmonary edema Systemic lupus erythematosus Tuberculosis Very thin blood (from blood thinning medications, most often at higher than recommended levels).Medicines that stop coughing (cough suppressants) may help if the problem comes from heavy coughing. These medicines may lead to airway blockages, so check with your health care provider before using them. Keep track of how long you cough up blood, and how much blood is mixed with the mucus. Call your provider any time you cough up blood, even if you do not have any other symptoms.Get medical help right away if you cough up blood and have: A cough that produces more than a few teaspoons of blood Blood in your urine or stools Chest pain Dizziness Fever Lightheadedness Severe shortness of breath.In an emergency, your provider will give you treatments to control your condition. The provider will then ask you questions about your cough, such as: How much blood are you coughing up? Are you coughing up large amounts of blood at a time? Do you have blood-streaked mucus (phlegm)? How many times have you coughed up blood and how often does it happen? How long has the problem been going on? Is it worse at some times such as at night? What other symptoms do you have? The provider will do a complete physical exam and check your chest and lungs. Tests that may be done include: Bronchoscopy , a test to view the airways Chest CT scan Chest x-ray Complete blood count Lung biopsy Lung scan Pulmonary arteriography Sputum culture and smear Test to see if the blood clots normally, such as PT or PTT.Hemoptysis; Spitting up blood; Bloody sputum.Brown CA, Raja AS. Hemoptysis.