Question: what does it mean when you cough and can't catch your breath?
Answer: A thick, wet cough can mean you have a cold or the flu. But if you also feel short of breath, it can be a sign of another condition, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD.) People with COPD have airways that are inflamed, that are clogged with mucus, or that don't work as well as they used to.