Lung disease and chronic morning cough, breathlessness: Here's why should see a doctor

It sounds innocent in the beginning, and you blame it on the the rainy weather or because you were stuck behind a bus in a traffic jam. But listen up: That morning cough can be a sign of something serious. It could be a post-nasal drip or, if you’re a smoker or former smoker, a hint of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

It’s something a lot of us ignore in the hope that it will go away by itself. But when that cough stays with you stubbornly, and lasts for weeks, it could be more than an annoyance. What is worrying is that it could be a sign that not everything is fine with your lungs.

Says Dr Mandeep Singh Malhotra, Director of Surgical Oncology, CK Birla Hospital Delhi, "They key is to recognise when a cough is not just another cough. Taking note early can make the difference between early detection and successful treatment."

Also read | Home remedies for coughing, headache and sore chest, symptoms of acute bronchitis

If your cough in the morning is persistent, keeps you awake, makes you short of breath or is associated with fatigue or unintended weight loss, don’t ignore it. It could be a symptom of many other underlying problems, including asthma, chronic bronchitis or a more serious lung ailment that should be evaluated by a doctor.

Here, some examples of when morning coughs should be taken seriously:

• It takes more than 2–3 weeks

If a morning cough persists for weeks and doesn’t resolve with antibiotics, steam or over-the-counter treatments, it may require more than simple symptom control. It's time to get checked.

• It isn’t seasonal

Many types of allergies and weather-related coughs are usually seasonal. But if you have the same cough every morning, regardless of the time of year, it could be a sign of something more structural, like something within the lungs.

Also read | Fever, cough & cold, throat infections: Take these simple precautions to stay healthy during changing weather

• It's worsening over time

Is your cough deeper, more tender, or different in any way? An aggravating cough could point to tuberculosis or lung cancer — both of which can’t be discounted.

• Medications are of no use

If you’re not relieved by bronchodilators, antihistamines or antibiotics, and the cough is staying the same or getting worse, it's a symptom that you should have more testing.

• Your sputum contains blood

Finding a speck of blood when you cough in the morning is a red flag. That could be a symptom of internal bleeding or a tumor, and that needs to be checked out right away.

• Chest discomfort on deep breaths

If your cough is accompanied by chest pain, especially after deep breaths or exertion, that can suggest inflammation or infection of the lining of the lung.

• Rapid weight loss

A nagging cough with unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite or chronic fatigue might signal more systemic trouble. These combined symptoms may indicate a serious lung condition.

• It leaves you breathlessness

Another indicator that simply can’t be ignored is shortness of breath that gradually gets worse and doesn’t improve with asthma inhalers or allergy medications.

Time to see a doctor

If any of this sounds like you, you should see your doctor or health care provider, or a pulmonologist, if you can. Scans like a high-resolution CT scan or a bronchoscopy, as well as newer techniques like liquid biopsy, can catch problems such as lung cancer or infection early, when the treatment tends to be most effective.

Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.