A general practitioner or physician that is board-certified in either family medicine or urgent care is a great doctor to consult for any cough. Not only can they provide initial treatment for a cough, but if it is more serious, they can also provide a referral for you to see a specialist, such as a pulmonologist or a gastroenterologist, depending on the underlying cause of the cough. That said, you should visit the emergency room if your cough is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:   ● Chest pain ● Choking or vomiting ● Coughing up blood or bloody phlegm ● Difficulty breathing or swallowing ● High fever ● Shortness of breath   You should also visit the emergency room for a cough if you have a compromised immune system due to diseases or illnesses such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, or an existing infection with life-threatening implications.