*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature P: Personality Disorders.

Cough

A cough will usually clear up on its own within 3 to 4 weeks.

How you can treat a cough yourself

There's usually no need to see a GP if you have a cough.

You should:

rest
drink plenty of fluids
try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities

You could also try:

paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat any pain
hot lemon and honey (not suitable for babies under 1 year old)
a herbal medicine called pelargonium (suitable for people aged 12 or over)

But there's limited evidence to show these work. Hot lemon with honey has a similar effect to cough medicines.

Some medicines and herbal treatments are not safe for everyone (for example, if you're pregnant). Always check the leaflet or speak to a pharmacist before taking them.

A pharmacist can help if you have a cough

If you have a cough, you can ask a pharmacist about:

cough syrup
cough medicine (some cough medicines should not be given to children under 12 years old)
cough sweets

These will not stop your cough, but may help you cough less.

Decongestants and cough medicines containing codeine will not stop your cough.

Find a pharmacy

See a GP if:

you've had a cough for more than 3 weeks (persistent cough)
you're losing weight for no reason
you have a weakened immune system - for example, because of chemotherapy or diabetes

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

your cough is very bad or quickly gets worse - for example, you have a hacking cough or cannot stop coughing
you feel very unwell
you have chest pain
the side of your neck feels swollen and painful (swollen glands)
you find it hard to breathe
you're coughing up blood

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

What happens at your appointment

To find out what's causing your cough, the GP might:

listen to your chest with a stethoscope
take a sample of any mucus you might be coughing up
order an X-ray, allergy test, or a test to see how well your lungs work
refer you to hospital to see a specialist, but this is rare

Important

Antibiotics are not normally prescribed for coughs. A GP will only prescribe them if you need them - for example, if you have a bacterial infection or you're at risk of complications.

What causes coughs

Most coughs are caused by a cold or flu.

Other causes include:

smoking
heartburn (acid reflux)
allergies - for example, hay fever
infections like bronchitis or COVID-19
mucus dripping down the throat from the back of the nose

A cough is rarely a sign of something serious like lung cancer.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature P: Personality Disorders. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
Photos: LightFieldStudios and one of VladOrlov, Stockcube, darak77, ajr_images or rawpixel.com.