This disclosure is directed to techniques for recording and recognizing physiological parameter patterns associated with symptoms. A medical device system includes a medical device including an accelerometer configured to collect an accelerometer signal that indicates one or more patient movements that occur during a cough. Additionally, the medical device system includes processing circuitry configured to: determine whether the accelerometer signal satisfies a set of criteria corresponding to a cough pattern comprising a smooth increase from a baseline, then a sharp decrease, a peak within the sharp decrease, then a gradual return to the baseline; and identify a cough based on the determination that the accelerometer signal satisfies the set of criteria.