Doctor warns 'never ignore' this one cold symptom if it lasts for a specific amount of time

A doctor has urged people to 'never ignore' this one cold symptom if it sticks around for a certain period of time.

While a runny nose, sneezing and coughing are perfectly common symptoms of a cold (especially during the winter months), it's never a good sign if they hang about.

And there is one particular aspect you shouldn't be ignoring if you've had it for three weeks or more, according to Dr Shireen.

The healthcare professional, who shares her words of wisdom on TikTok to over 24,000 followers, has advised when you should book an appointment with your GP.

"There is one thing I wish everyone knew about coughs - and it's really simple. If you've had a persistent cough for more than three weeks, you need to see a doctor," Dr Shireen said.

"There are lots of different things that can cause a chronic cough like asthma, reflux, respiratory tract infection. But, it is also important that we rule out things like lung cancer."

The doctor added: "If someone has a persistent cough, what we [as doctors] usually do is first examine them and send them for a chest X-ray. It's a really quick, easy test that we can do to look at someone's lungs and make sure nothing is going on there that we need to be concerned about."

While a cough is common once in a while, Mayo Clinic warns a cough 'that lasts for several weeks or one that brings up discolored or bloody mucus may be a sign of a condition that needs medical attention'.

The NHS also recommends those who have a cough alongside losing weight for no reason and those who have a weakened immune system because of chemotherapy or diabetes, for example, should pay their GP a visit.

Previously, Dr Malathy Munisamy told The Mirror that 'standard coughs' will typically 'settle on their own within a couple of weeks' and are 'often harmless'.

And if your cough is caused by a cold or flu - with typical symptoms taking the form of sneezing, headaches, muscle aches and fever - then 'rest, hydration, paracetamol, ibuprofen, or cold relief medication are usually effective treatments'.

However, Cleveland Clinic reassures: "Having a cough often means nothing serious. It’s normal (and helpful) to cough in certain situations. Coughing helps you get rid of things in your throat and airways that are irritating or making it harder to breathe.

"If you also have other symptoms like trouble breathing, fever, trouble eating or sleeping, or you’re coughing up bloody or colored sputum, call your healthcare provider for advice. Because young kids can’t tell us what they're feeling, it’s a good idea to call your child’s provider if they have a cough and fever or a cough that sounds uncomfortable or concerning to you."