question: Over the past month I have developed a bad cough with mild congestion and a runny nose. My cough is so bad it can make me shake and I have to stop what I'm doing or it wakes me up. When I cough, it sounds almost like a bark sometimes and occasionally I cough so hard that I have trouble inhaling again. Could it be a common cold or should I consult a doctor? It's been this bad for over a week.