Coughs: Check Your Symptoms

Content provided by Healthwise

When to See a Doctor

Do you have mild difficulty breathing?

See significance of mild difficulty breathing if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Did mild difficulty breathing begin after taking a medicine?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Do you have new or increasing mild difficulty breathing, even at rest, but you can still speak in complete sentences?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you had new shortness of breath after any amount of exertion during the past 24 hours but you are able to breathe normally when you are resting?

You need an appointment within the next 1 to 2 weeks if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Do you have chronic mild breathing problems that have been stable and now are slowly getting worse?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	February 25, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer