According to MayoClinic.com, the common cold is the result of catching one of over 200 different viruses. Common cold symptoms can be easily confused with allergy or asthma symptoms. These symptoms include sneezing, nasal congestion and chest congestion. Although asthma symptoms may result from a cold, a doctor should evaluate the condition and make a professional diagnosis.
Increased Chest Congestion
Increased mucus production is a common result of the common cold, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Increased congestion in the sinus cavity makes its way to the back of the throat, resulting in postnasal drip, a condition where excess mucus drains down the back of the throat, affecting the chest. Chest congestion as a result of postnasal drip is typically harmless, but can lead to complications if not treated. Chest congestion is treated with expectorants that thin mucus, making it easier for the body to expel it, according to the University of Iowa.
Increased Coughing
Coughing is a common symptom of asthma and the common cold, according to MedlinePlus. A cough caused by the common cold will be wet with phlegm, while a cough caused by asthma will be dry and frequent. Coughing is the body's attempt to clear the throat from extra mucus by breaking it up and swallowing it. A combination of cough suppressants and expectorants are an effective over-the-counter treatment for consistent coughing due to the common cold, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. A cough suppressant works by restricting the cough reflex from functioning properly.
Difficulty Breathing
Difficulty breathing from the common cold is the result of chest congestion, and may be a sign of bronchitis, an infection in the lungs, according to MayoClinic.com. Persistent or worsening symptoms that include chest congestion, difficulty breathing and chest pain warrant a visit to the doctor. Wheezing is a shared symptom of asthma and the common cold; it's a sound produced from restriction in the airways. An asthma condition causes swelling in the lungs that produce a wheeze, while the common cold wheezing is the result of phlegm build up in the throat. Common symptoms of breathing complications are mental confusion, lethargy and fainting.
