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Do Stress And Anxiety Cause Severe Cough And Breathlessness?

Posted on Mon, 16 Nov 2015

Question: Dear Dr XXXXXXX
I was feeling good after talked to you.I have no cough for many days. But just now about 4:00 Am, I woke up by coughing again, because my doctor really care about if my cough was improved or not. This made me nerves again. I believe I am suffering anxiety too, that is why from since Sat.day I got the results of x to now , only 8 days, I did lose some weight: 2 -2 lbs , I guess I am over nerves, made the anxiety worse, lost appetite
The occasional cough bother me again.... Sorry Dr. XXXXXXX I bother you again . I do not know why I always think I will get lung cancer....

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
No need to worry much.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
Thanks for your direct query.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, stress and anxiety can cause worsening of cough and breathlessness.
They can cause weight loss and loss of appetite.
Sorry to say but I can not get you in one sentence regarding chest x ray.
Please let me know
1. Have you undergone chest x ray again?
2. Do you mean to say that it's 8 days since chest x ray and you are still having cough, weight loss and loss of appetite? Is it true?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

after I took the antibiotic, my cough improved, bu this morning, the cough come back again, may be the weather is too dry. I did lost 2-3 lbs, but I believe when I anxiety, I will lose weight that is for sure. My appetite is OK, jut feel laze to eat.
I did not take another x ray, my doctor say it is better to wait 3 weeks.
Many years ago, I had a much serious cough, I took a lot antibiotic medicine, but it did not improve, my friend advised me to take allergy medicine. I did, and then I recovered. This time's worry is because the x ray .

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can you send me x ray image?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
No need to worry for your chest x ray.
Can you send me the image of your chest x ray? So that I can guide you further.
Can you also tell me few more things?
1. Which antibiotic you have taken?
2. Do you have similar symptoms in the past?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (20 minutes later)

The image is in a CD at my home, I do not know how to open, it comes with a software, so I do not know how to use the software to open the CD, unless I can attached the whole CD to email.

The antibiotic is Azithromycin

I did have cough issue in the past, on an off. This morning's cough seemed come from itchy throat.
Actually, some of my friends had this problem for years, they tried to track , but not thing happened. I guess I just worry too much.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do you have any allergic symptoms?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your problem regarding CD issue.
No need to worry for this.
Yes, dryness of throat can cause coughing.
Since your friends also having similar kind of dry cough, possibility of viral infection (Influenza) is likely cause for this.
Another possibility is constant allergy.
So please let me know if you have other allergic symptoms like redness, itching in eyes, sneezing, running nose, skin itching, rashes etc.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)

No , I never had redness, itching in eyes, sneezing... My friends had similar problems for many years, always cough with sputum。。 In Chinese medicine, they even think to cough is better for my current situation , cough can bring more sputum out of lunch to clean up the toxic

I guess my anxiety is more serious than my cough issue. I really appreciate you are so patient with me as you are a young doctor.

I may just try to clam myself down to wait for 3 weeks to get another x ray.

I keep this window open for a while to see if I still have question for you. I will give you good review

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, it is good to cough out sputum.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on HCM.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, it is good to cough out sputum.
This actually reduce congestion from the lungs.
And yes, anxiety can cause similar symptoms if uncontrolled.
So control of anxiety is must in your case.
Please let me know
1. Have you ever consulted psychiatrist?
2. Are you taking any drugs for anxiety?
3. What is the cause for your anxiety?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar