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Suggest Treatment For Frequent Coughing Spells While Having Heart Disease
Question: my husband is 95 years old, he has developed a cough usually in a form of spell to last up to 30 minutes to an hour, he has taken 2 rounds of antibotics without any help, we have a number of over the counter med. also a number of perscrptions, nothing seems to help. he is losing weight and getting weaker. He has heart problems, but still active.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that his symptoms could be related to the heart.
Heart failure and pulmonary edema can mimic this clinical scenario.
Other possible causes to consider would be: a lung infection, chronic inflammation of the airways or asthma, an allergic reaction, gastro-esophageal reflux or any other lung disorder.
Is the cough more prominent after eating or when bending over? This could be indicative of gastro-esophageal reflux. In such case an antiacid of PPI (omeprazole, esomeprazole, etc.) would help.
Is he taking any ACE (ramipril, enalapril, etc.)? These drugs can cause chronic cough as a common adverse effect. In such case it would be necessary to switch to other anti-hypertensive drugs.
Anyway, I would recommend consulting with his doctor for some new tests:
- a chest X ray study and pulmonary function tests
- allergy tests
- a cardiac ultrasound and resting ECG
- NT-pro BNP levels for heart failure
- complete blood count, PCR, ESR for inflammation
- blood oxygen saturation levels .
In case of heart failure and increased NT-pro BNP levels, diuretics would help reduce the couch.
But if allergy tests results positive, an anti-allergic would help improve his situation.
You should discuss with his doctor on the above tests.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that his symptoms could be related to the heart.
Heart failure and pulmonary edema can mimic this clinical scenario.
Other possible causes to consider would be: a lung infection, chronic inflammation of the airways or asthma, an allergic reaction, gastro-esophageal reflux or any other lung disorder.
Is the cough more prominent after eating or when bending over? This could be indicative of gastro-esophageal reflux. In such case an antiacid of PPI (omeprazole, esomeprazole, etc.) would help.
Is he taking any ACE (ramipril, enalapril, etc.)? These drugs can cause chronic cough as a common adverse effect. In such case it would be necessary to switch to other anti-hypertensive drugs.
Anyway, I would recommend consulting with his doctor for some new tests:
- a chest X ray study and pulmonary function tests
- allergy tests
- a cardiac ultrasound and resting ECG
- NT-pro BNP levels for heart failure
- complete blood count, PCR, ESR for inflammation
- blood oxygen saturation levels .
In case of heart failure and increased NT-pro BNP levels, diuretics would help reduce the couch.
But if allergy tests results positive, an anti-allergic would help improve his situation.
You should discuss with his doctor on the above tests.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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