What should you know about rhinitis and cough?

A blocked or runny nose can lead mucus to drain towards the throat and trigger coughing, especially when lying down. Sneezing and itchy eyes may point towards allergic rhinitis, while fever, tiredness, sore throat, or body aches can accompany a viral illness such as the common cold. Cough can also reflect asthma, acid reflux, bronchitis, or another airway condition. The pattern matters: ask whether the cough is dry or phlegmy, daytime or nighttime, and whether wheezing or breathlessness occurs.

Drink fluids, rest, and keep the air free from smoke and strong scents. Saline nasal spray or rinse may ease congestion; use a prepared product and follow its instructions. Raising your head slightly at night may reduce throat irritation from drainage. A pharmacist can discuss symptom relief that suits your age, pregnancy status, and other medicines. Avoid starting antibiotics without advice, because they do not treat most viral causes.

Book medical advice if a cough is persistent, repeatedly returns, disrupts sleep, or comes with wheezing. Seek urgent care for severe breathing difficulty, blue or grey lips, chest pain, confusion, coughing blood, or a child who is struggling to feed or breathe. People with asthma or long-term lung disease should follow their personalised action plan and seek help when symptoms exceed it.

Could drainage explain my cough, or should we assess reflux, asthma, or infection? Which medicines are safe for me? What changes mean I should seek urgent help?