Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You came to the ED for a cough. The doctors think it is safe for you to recover at home.
Many things can cause a cough, like a cold, allergies, asthma, or smoking. A cough can also happen from mucus dripping down the back of the throat, or from stomach acid backing up into the throat. Sometimes, a cough is a side effect from a medicine.
You might be waiting on test results. The staff will notify you if there are concerning results.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●To try to ease your symptoms:
•Use a cool mist humidifier to avoid breathing dry air.
•Suck on hard candy or cough drops to soothe sore throat and cough.
•Gargle with salt water (mix 1/2 teaspoon salt with 1 cup warm water) a few times a day.
•If you have a runny or stuffy nose, use saline nose drops or spray.
•Sip warm liquids to keep your throat moist.
•Take warm, steamy showers to help soothe the cough.
●If you are coughing up mucus, try an over-the-counter cold and cough medicine. These can thin mucus and sometimes reduce the urge to cough.
●If you have acid reflux, your doctor or nurse will talk to you about how to reduce symptoms.
●Do not smoke or be in smoke-filled places. Avoid things that can cause breathing problems like vaping, fumes, pollution, dust, and other common allergens.
●If your cough is caused by allergies or acid reflux, you can try over-the-counter medicines for these problems. You can also try an over-the-counter cough medicine.
When should I get emergency help?
●Return to the ED if you:
•Have chest pain when you cough
•Have trouble breathing or noisy breathing (wheezing)
•Cough up blood, or yellow or green mucus
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you:
●Have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
●Cough so hard you vomit
●Are still coughing in 14 days
●Have a cough, and are losing weight without trying to
●Have new or worsening symptoms
Patient education: Cough in adults (The Basics)
Patient education: Cough, runny nose, and colds (The Basics)
Patient education: Coughing up blood (The Basics)
Patient education: Chronic cough in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: The common cold in adults (Beyond the Basics)
