If you are working a lot and don't have the time to see a doctor, you might be tempted to ignore your cough for as long as possible. However, you might have the concern, in the back of your head, that your cough might be more serious than it seems to you at the time. Here are some signs to look for that will let you know that you should see a doctor.

1. You're Coughing Up Blood

If you start to cough up blood, this is a sign that your problem goes beyond the common cold and could potentially indicate an issue with your blood vessels or your lungs. It might even indicate that you have cancer. You will want to get this checked out right away. Be sure that you are looking closely at your mucus should you cough anything up during the course of your cold. If it is a clear color or even a little milky, then you should be fine. However, if you have blood in your mucus, then you will need to see a doctor immediately.

2. Your Cough is Accompanied By Chest Pain or Shortness of Breath

The first thing that you need to look for are other symptoms. A cough on its own, assuming that you are not coughing up blood, is more of an aggravation than a concern. However, if your cough should be accompanied by other symptoms, specifically chest pain or shortness of breath, then you might want to consider seeking medical attention. Both of these symptoms signify a worse problem because they show that you are having a hard time breathing. Having a hard time breathing is a symptom of a few different illnesses and conditions, such as asthma and bronchitis, that will require you to get a doctor's attention before you can recover.

3. Your Cough Lasts a Long Time

According to a study by the University of Georgia in Athens, the average time that a person suffers from a cough is between 17 and 18 days. If your cough persists for a significantly long period of time beyond 17 or 18 days, then you will want to be sure that you go to see a doctor because that could indicate that you have bronchitis or pneumonia. 

It can be tempting to try to wait out a cough without seeing a doctor, However, if it is negatively affecting your life for more than a few weeks, you should seek treatment. Contact a business, such as Snow Creek Medical Center, for more information.