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Suggest Treatment For COPD And Respiratory Rate Of 26

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Posted on Thu, 1 Dec 2016
Question: My husband is a smoker and drinks a few beers every evening. He has been coughing up junk in the mornings for at least 3 years now. He coughed so hard once last year he passed out.
Lately I've been noticing his breathing is fast. I've secretly timed it at different times over the last week, mostly while sleeping. His respiratory rate is 26 breaths a minute. He also snores loudly and falls asleep very fast.
He won't go to the doctor, he thinks he's fine, is he right? Or are my suspicions that something is wrong correct.
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Answered by Dr. Geeta Sundar (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
You are very rightly concerned.

Detailed Answer:
Hi, Welcome to HCM, You are very rightly concerned. From your symptoms I think he is developing COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which happens in chronic smokers.

He needs an X-ray chest to identify the problem

Meanwhile he should take steam inhalation every night, and do some breathing exercises. He can blow balloons or get a respirator that exercises his lungs.

Beer can add on to the problem as it promotes congestion. Obviously he needs to cut down on both Beer and nicotine.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Geeta Sundar

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1975

Answered : 1329 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For COPD And Respiratory Rate Of 26

Brief Answer: You are very rightly concerned. Detailed Answer: Hi, Welcome to HCM, You are very rightly concerned. From your symptoms I think he is developing COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), which happens in chronic smokers. He needs an X-ray chest to identify the problem Meanwhile he should take steam inhalation every night, and do some breathing exercises. He can blow balloons or get a respirator that exercises his lungs. Beer can add on to the problem as it promotes congestion. Obviously he needs to cut down on both Beer and nicotine. Regards