Question: I have shortness of breath that has been increasing. When I sleep, sometimes I waken and find the only way that I can sleep is to sit up. A few minutes ago I was awakened by my rough breathing and shortness of breath and sat up and started coughing. I also have had a cough for years. But it isn't always there. It may almost totally disappear if I go to another location outside the home -- such as when I work on a job. As I'm self-employed I spend a lot of time home and when I'm home, I may cough once every 30 seconds. What really sets it off is the smell of vinegar, a sip of wine, etc. My problem started probably 25 years ago when I painted our family room. After three hours I became very weak. It took me two or three days to recoup, but I then developed this cough that has never totally gone away. It was about that same time I got pnemonia and was laid up for several weeks. I did not take anti-biotics for this, but did homeopathic chest treatments. After a few weeks I was fine. Now, I have a shortness of breath with the cough. All that I have ever coughed up is some yellow mucus.