🚑 Seek urgent care if:
- Coughing up blood, breathlessness or wheeze, high fever, chest pain, a cough lasting more than three weeks, or cough with weight loss or night sweats.→ Do not self-treat. Seek medical evaluation (to exclude infection such as tuberculosis, and other causes).
Classical understanding
- Classically described in five types by doṣa and cause; framed around disturbed prāṇa and udāna vāyu in the respiratory passages.
General self-care (safe for most)
- Warm fluids, steam inhalation, rest, and soothing measures such as warm water with honey and ginger (for adults) may ease a simple cough; avoid cold and dry exposure.
A cough that is severe, bloody, breathless or lasts beyond three weeks must be seen by a physician.
View sources — 3 classical & official references ›
- Classical text Charaka Saṁhitā
- Classical text Mādhava Nidāna
- Classical text Aṣṭāṅga Hṛdaya