What your cough could really mean, from THAT irritating “dry” tickle to the “wet” one that leaves you salivating mucus.

Most of us have experienced an annoying cough.

Whether caused by a cold or an allergy, most of the time it is not a sign of anything serious and should go away within a couple of weeks without treatment.

Coughing is just a natural reflex action to clear our airways of mucus and irritants like dust or smoke.

But if your cough doesn’t subside, you become short of breath doing simple things and cough up blood, it could be a sign of lung cancer, doctors say.

Here, MailOnline breaks down the different types of coughs they can cause and when it’s time to see your GP.

a dry cough

If you’ve struggled to get rid of a virus, potentially a cold or even Covid, you’ll be very familiar with a dry cough.

Dr Hana Patel, a London-based GP, told MailOnline: “This can persist and be bothersome, affecting people by disrupting their sleep at night.”

But the remnants of a cold aren’t the only cause of a dry cough, which can create a frustrating tickling sensation in the back of your throat. Generally no phlegm or mucus is produced, unlike a wet cough.

They will usually go away on their own within a few weeks.

Experts say that a dry cough that lasts more than three weeks should be investigated in case it has another cause.

Dr. Patel explained that dry cough can also be caused by an allergy or asthma.

If it is caused by an allergy, you may notice a tight feeling in your chest, difficulty breathing, and wheezing.

In some cases, acid reflux (when stomach acid travels up the throat) may be the culprit.

A dry cough can be as persistent as a chesty cough, according to Dr Aimee Brame, consultant physician at London Bridge Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare.

Dr. Brame, a respiratory specialist, added: “They can be drier and come more from the throat than the chest.”

To get to the bottom of the cause of your dry cough, Dr. Brame suggests keeping a diary to rule out any allergies.

“Keeping a diary of things that make your cough worse can help,” she said.

‘Some people find that they have a terrible cough at home that goes away when they are at work.

“Something in your yard could be causing it, or it could be a pet.”

Dr. Brame also says that removing dust from the house, especially under the bed, can also reduce dry coughs, especially if it is caused by an allergy.

a wet chough

Most people who have a wet cough would describe it as a chesty cough.

It is usually caused by an overproduction of phlegm or mucus due to an infection, flu, or the common cold.

If it’s caused by a cold, Dr. Patel suggests relieving symptoms at night by sleeping with your head elevated.

Drinking plenty of water to help loosen mucus and ease coughing can also help relieve a wet cough, according to the NHS. A hot drink of lemon and honey is also recommended to relieve the sore throat that so often accompanies tickling.

Although usually caused by viral infections, the seasonal plague of hay fever can also cause a wet cough.

When the nose is irritated by pollen, it can accelerate mucus production.

Postnasal drip, when mucus slowly drips down the back of the throat, can cause the urge to cough.

“A postnasal drip may be associated with a dry or wet cough and it is the drip that needs to be treated, not the cough,” Dr. Brame said.

Using a nasal spray and drinking plenty of water can also help alleviate this.

However, chest cough is not always caused by a cold or infection. In some cases, it may be due to a heart condition.

“People may think of respiratory illnesses, but there are other things inside the chest that can cause coughing,” Dr. Brame said. “You may have a cough associated with heart problems, especially if you have some fluid in your chest.”

If you also have shortness of breath, swelling of your ankles and your symptoms are aggravated by exercise, he suggests visiting your GP.

a chronic cough

If you have been enduring a persistent cough for three weeks or more, you should visit your GP, the NHS says.

Chronic cough can have a variety of causes, including asthma, allergies, postnasal drip, and acid reflux.

A persistent cough can also be the result of smoking.

Although rarer, it can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as lung cancer, heart failure or tuberculosis, according to Dr. Patel.

Dr Patel said: ‘Patients tell me it tends to be a dry cough with irritation or a tickling sensation.

‘This is quite common but it can affect people in their daily lives, sleeping at night, affecting their appetite and eating.

“Cough can appear when talking, laughing, certain strong, irritating odors, and changes in temperature.”

But it’s important to be aware of “red flag” symptoms that could be a sign that something more serious is at play.

Dr Brame said that persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats and also coughing up blood are “red flags” and signs of lung cancer that should be urgently investigated by a doctor.

Lung cancer affects more than 43,000 people each year in the UK, according to the NHS. It is the deadliest type.

‘It’s really difficult to say what is a worrying cough and what is not.

“If you are worried about a cough, this is usually a good reason to visit a GP,” Dr Brame said.

She emphasizes that if your cough is “concerning or bothering you,” you should probably get it checked out.

Lung cancer mainly affects older people. The NHS reports that more than four in 10 people diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK are aged 75 or over and that it is much rarer in people under 40.

Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, accounting for about 70 percent of cases.

This is because when you smoke, you regularly inhale hundreds of toxic substances.

However, people who have not smoked can also develop lung cancer.