Coughing Fit or Allergy Attack? Understanding the Difference

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a coughing marathon and wondered, “Is this just a random cough, or am I dealing with allergies here?”

Getting the lowdown on whether you’re dealing with a coughing fit or an allergy attack can be a game-changer for your health and help you find the best fix-it strategy to start feeling like your fabulous self again.

What is a Coughing Fit?

Coughing removes mucus, germs, and foreign particles from the respiratory system, which protects the lungs from infection and inflammation.^1a A cough starts when you take a deep breath in. Then, the opening to your windpipe quickly closes, trapping the air in your lungs. Your chest and belly muscles then give a big push, but because the air can’t escape yet, it builds up a lot of pressure inside. Finally, the windpipe pops open, and the trapped air zooms out, making the loud cough sound we’re all familiar with.^1b

Coughing fits aren’t just your run-of-the-mill single coughs that politely excuse themselves after making their point. No, these are the relentless, back-to-back coughs that barely give you a breather in between. Aside from being a nuisance, coughing fits that are frequent and persistent can strain lung tissue.²

What is an Allergy Attack?

An allergy attack is your body’s version of a mistaken identity crisis. Your immune system, the body’s defence force against harmful invaders like viruses and bacteria, sometimes gets overzealous.^3a It mistakes something completely harmless for a dangerous intruder. This misjudgement leads to an all-hands-on-deck response, with your immune system launching a full-scale defence operation. When the immune system swings into action, it releases antibodies to combat the supposed threat, and this is where the fun begins (or, more accurately, where it ends). These antibodies are responsible for symptoms such as sneezing, a runny or congested nose, watery eyes, coughing, itching and other symptoms.^3a

Triggers and Causes

Coughing fits and allergy attacks each have their unique set of triggers and causes.

When it comes to coughing, the usual suspects include infections like the common cold or flu.^4a Sometimes, other infections such as sinusitis with postnatal drip might be the culprit behind coughing.^4b Environmental irritants like cigarette smoke may also irritate the airways, resulting in coughing.^4c

On the flip side, as mentioned earlier, allergy attacks are often triggered by the body’s reaction to otherwise harmless substances. Certain foods^5a, pet dander^5b, dust mites,^5c moulds^5d, pollen^5f and even cockroaches^5e can be triggers for allergies.

If allergies run in your family, there’s a higher chance you might deal with allergies too.^5g

Distinguishing Symptoms

While both coughing fits and allergy attacks can involve coughing, the context and accompanying symptoms often help differentiate the two.

If you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night because of a severe coughing spell, it might be a sign that you’re catching a cold. Colds can make you have either a moist cough with phlegm or a dry one. However, if you’re dealing with allergies, the cough that comes with it is usually dry. But, there’s a twist if you also have asthma along with your allergies. Your allergies could set off your asthma, leading to a lot of coughing and even wheezing.^6a

If you’re still unsure of whether it’s a coughing fit or allergies, think about when your symptoms started. With allergies, especially those triggered by tree pollen in spring, your symptoms might gradually increase over a few weeks as more pollen gets into the air. On the other hand, cold symptoms usually show up quickly, within just a few days. While a cold might get better in a couple of weeks, allergy symptoms can stick around for the whole season.^6b

When to See a Doctor

Reach out to a healthcare provider if your coughing continues for more than a few weeks or is accompanied by symptoms such as fever, chest pain, or difficulty catching your breath.

Likewise, if allergy symptoms become severe or start to significantly affect your quality of life, professional guidance is essential.

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References:

1. Harvard Health Publishing. That nagging cough. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/that-nagging-cough. Last accessed February 2024.
2. Pari.com. 8 tips that can help you manage a coughing fit. Available from: https://www.pari.com/int/blog/tips-urge-coughing-fit/. Last accessed February 2024.
3. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Allergies and the Immune System. Available from: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/allergies-and-the-immune-system. Last accessed February 2024.
4. Penn Medicine. Cough. Available from: https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/cough. Last accessed February 2024.
5. Cleveland Clinic. Allergies. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8610-allergies. Last accessed February 2024.
6. The New York Times. Is It a Cold, or Is It Allergies? Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/article/cold-allergy-symptoms.html. Last accessed February 2024.