Dry Cough Vs Chesty Cough: What’s the Difference?

The primary difference between a dry cough and a chesty cough is that the latter produces phlegm. In healthcare this is referred to as a ‘productive’ cough. A dry cough often feels like a persistent tickle or itch in the back of your throat, but no mucus is coughed up from your airways. This is called a ‘non-productive’ cough.

What happens when you cough?

A cough pushes air forcefully through your airways, up your throat and out of your mouth. Coughing is your body’s way of clearing your lungs and airways. It is a protective reflex that can happen in response to something you’ve breathed in, such as dust or pollen; to get rid of mucus in your throat and chest; or to expel germs.

Coughs often go away by themselves but if you are coughing for three weeks or longer, it may be a sign of an underlying health problem and should be investigated. A barking cough can be a sign of croup while whooping cough produces a characteristic ‘whoop’ sound.

Symptoms of a chesty cough

With a chesty cough, you may have a feeling of tightness or heaviness in the chest and sometimes there’s a rattling sound as you breathe. Phlegm is coughed up from the lungs and lower airways. It may be clear or white, but if it develops a green or yellowish tinge you should see a doctor.

Symptoms of a dry cough

A dry cough often feels like a tickle or itch in the back of your throat. When you cough there is no phlegm. The airways may become irritated by airborne pollutants or allergens such as dust, pollen or pet dander.

Common causes of a cough

Coughing is often associated with infections like colds, flu, laryngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. The most common cause of a short-term cough is a viral infection which may attack your nose, mouth, throat and voice box (the upper respiratory tract). The infection typically results in redness and inflammation in the throat, windpipe and lungs.

Allergens such as pollen and mould can also trigger coughs, as can chronic conditions like asthma, which causes the airways to swell, narrow and fill with mucus. An asthma attack can be triggered by exposure to certain allergens as well as smoke, strong smells, cold temperatures, exercise and stress. COPD and other chronic lung diseases are also associated with coughing, along with certain types of medication such as ACE inhibitors and nasal sprays. Coughing at night can be due to obstructive sleep apnoea, which causes the muscles and soft tissues in your throat to relax as you sleep, restricting the oxygen supply. In some cases, coughing can be a sign of acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) which results in stomach acid travelling up the windpipe causing irritation. A chesty cough can also be a sign of pneumonia or heart failure.

Treating a cough

Most short-term coughs can be treated effectively with simple at-home remedies or over-the-counter treatments. These include cough suppressants which calm the part of your brain that signals the cough reflex, decongestants which can help with postnasal drip, expectorants which help to thin the mucus making it easier to cough up, and honey and lemon which can help soothe a sore throat.

Depending on what is causing the cough, you may need to see a doctor who may prescribe:

• Antibiotics – for bacterial infections
• Antihistamines – for allergies
• Inhalers – for managing asthma or COPD
• Oral steroids for flare-ups of asthma or COPD, as well as croup
• Proton pump inhibitors or H2 blockers for acid reflux

When to see a doctor

You should see a doctor if you have a cough that’s lasted for more than three weeks; if you are coughing up greenish or yellowish phlegm; if you have chest pain, shortness of breath or unexplained tiredness; if you are coughing up blood; if your sleep is disrupted by coughing; or if you develop a fever or unexplained weight loss. 

Seek urgent help if you are having problems breathing, develop chest pains, or become drowsy or unresponsive.

For advice about diagnosing and treating coughs, contact us.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an acute cough and a chronic cough?

An acute cough is one that is short-term (normally lasting up to three weeks). A chronic cough is persistent, often lasting for eight weeks or longer.

What causes a chronic cough?

There can be many different causes. These include: a post-viral cough (which follows a viral respiratory tract infection); post-nasal drip which causes mucus to drip down your throat from the back of your nose or sinuses; COPD which interferes with breathing; and asthma.

A persistent cough can be caused by certain serious conditions so should never be ignored. These include:

• Lung cancer or cancer of the larynx
• Cystic fibrosis
• Silicosis
• Tuberculosis
• Bronchiectasis

Can coughing cause complications?

Coughing too hard or too much can result in complications, which range from muscle strains to rib fractures, headaches, vomiting and asthma attacks.