When should you seek professional treatment for a cough?

A person should seek professional treatment for a cough if the cough lasts more than a few weeks, according to the Mayo Clinic. Medical help should also be sought if the person is wheezing.

Other times that a person with a cough should seek medical help is if the cough produces blood or green phlegm, or when they are having trouble breathing. Sometimes, these symptoms can indicate a more serious illness that only a doctor can diagnose and treat. To soothe a cough at home, people can try cough drops, increase their fluid intake and moisturize the air with a vaporizer or steamy shower.