Types of Cough

Coughing starts when part of your breathing passage becomes inflamed or irritated by matter such as dust, smoke or mucus.

A cough is simply a reflex that tries to remove the irritant and to clear the airway.

Broadly speaking there are two main types of cough:

Productive coughs which produce excess mucus or phlegm
Unproductive coughs which produce no mucus or phlegm

Based on consumer perception, these two types can be further differentiated into mucus and chesty coughs (productive) & dry and tickly coughs (unproductive).

For more details on the different types of cough please read below.

Chesty cough | Mucus cough | Tickly cough | Dry cough

Chesty cough

What does a chesty cough feel like?

When you’ve got a chesty cough it can feel tight as if someone was squeezing your chest too hard. Find out how BENYLIN^® Chesty Cough products can help you ease the symptoms of your chesty cough. (Not a suitable treatment for asthma)

Why do you have a chesty cough?

Chesty coughs are caused by a build-up of phlegm in the lungs and result in chest congestion. Chest congestion is a common symptom of respiratory tract infections. Sometimes irritants such as dust, bacteria or viruses can enter your lungs and cause an infection. This can result in inflammation of the airways and result in extra phlegm (or mucus) in your lungs. The cough mechanism kicks in to try to get rid of it.

Mucus cough

What does a mucus cough feel like?

When a wet mucus cough sits on your chest it feels heavy as though an octopus is weighing down on your chest. Find out how BENYLIN^® Mucus Cough products can help you ease the symptoms of your mucus cough.

Why do you have a mucus cough?

Mucus producing tissue lines our lungs. The function of mucus is to protect the body from dust, bacteria, viruses and other inhaled debris. Even when you are not ill, your body produces mucus to trap external particles and keep them from entering the lungs, acting as a filter.

When you get a cold, more mucus is produced to trap the viruses or bacteria. This mucus can gather in the respiratory system and a cough reflex is triggered to help remove it.

When mucus builds up in the chest, it can be thick and difficult to get rid of by coughing. Therefore it is useful to have something that can help loosen the mucus and ease bronchial congestion – relieving that feeling of heaviness on your chest.

Tickly cough

What does a tickly cough feel like?

A tickly cough can be quite irritating. It feels uncomfortable and can bother you while talking as if someone is tickling your throat with a feather. You would feel it in your throat rather than in the chest as opposed to the chesty and mucus coughs. Find out how BENYLIN^® Tickly Cough can help you ease the symptoms of your tickly cough.

Why do you have a tickly cough?

The irritated area in the throat produces a tickly sensation causing you to cough. A sore throat can also be experienced with a tickly cough, as the constant coughing may irritate the throat.

Dry cough

What does a dry cough feel like?

When you experience a hacking dry cough it can be intense and painful. Sometimes you even want to avoid coughing, because you are afraid it will hurt. A dry cough can be felt in your throat rather than in the chest as opposed to the chesty and mucus coughs. Find out how BENYLIN^® Dry Cough products can help you ease the symptoms of your dry cough.

Why do you have a dry cough?

Dry coughs are caused by an inflammation of the upper airways. There is no mucus or phlegm produced. A dry cough can be caused by infections such as a cold or the flu. Dry coughs can also be triggered by other environmental irritants such as fumes, dust or cigarette smoke.

When to contact your GP:

If your cough lasts longer than three weeks after a viral infection or if it’s starting to get worse instead of better you should contact your GP. You should also contact your GP when you: