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What Causes Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease?
Question: In 2008 I got a cold. After the cold cleared up my cough continued. The cough is from my throat. If I was eating or drinking I didn't cough, so I always had a cough drop or gum in my mouth so I was producing saliva as this helped a bit. Also, when I was laying down I didn't cough either. After a couple of months I went to the doctor. He gave me numerous meds that did nothing. He tested me for TB, I came up positive (I've had the TB vaccine so I always come up positive), but he treated me anyway. I moved so had to see another doctor. He decided I didn't have TB so took me off the meds. I had an endoscopy, it was normal. Allergy testing...normal. Exploratory surgery...nothing was found. At this point, one year had passed. The doctor put me on desipramine as he said it dulls the nerve endings. This actually worked. After taking this for a couple of years I became immune to it...my cough came back. After that I coughed for about 6 months, then it stopped. Each time I got a slight cold or got sick, my cough came back for a few months. About 3 months ago I had a severe cold. Of course, my cough came back and it's worse than ever. I still use gum or cough drops, but that doesn't work as good anymore. I'm still coughing from my throat. Even laying down doesn't relieve it completely. The coughing attacks are so severe that I feel as though my throat is closing up and I'm gasping for air, I literally feel as though I'm suffocating and it's a very scary feeling. Sometimes after doing this I cough up this clear substance that is the consistency of jello. Even after coughing this up I still cough violently. Please help, this is ruining my quality of life. I don't smoke and never have. I don't drink or do any kind of drugs. I'm 48 and I am slightly overweight. Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease...
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I have gone through your query and I understand your concerns.
Basing on your medical history and on your symptoms, I can say that you suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD).
Factors that causes COPD are many and different, but I think that the initial cause of COPD is aspiration pneumonia, that is caused by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.
To confirm the diagnosis you need:
- Pulmonary X-ray.
- Chest Ct-scan.
- Sputum culture.
- Spirometry(respiratory test).
- Analysis of arterial blood, to determine the need for oxygen.
- Complete blood count.
- International normalized ratio test(INR test), to exclude pulmonary embolism.
The results of these test will confirm the diagnosis for COPD.
You should avoid polluted environments to relieve cough and you should elevate the head of your bed in order to avoid reflux.
The treatment will contain macrolide antibiotic(when cough is aggravated), Bronchodilators and expectorant medicines.
Basing on the results of the above tests, your doctor will determine the medicines and the dosage that you need.
Contact your pulmonologist.
Ask me for anything unclear.
All the best.
Dr. Behar.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease...
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
I have gone through your query and I understand your concerns.
Basing on your medical history and on your symptoms, I can say that you suffer from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease(COPD).
Factors that causes COPD are many and different, but I think that the initial cause of COPD is aspiration pneumonia, that is caused by Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.
To confirm the diagnosis you need:
- Pulmonary X-ray.
- Chest Ct-scan.
- Sputum culture.
- Spirometry(respiratory test).
- Analysis of arterial blood, to determine the need for oxygen.
- Complete blood count.
- International normalized ratio test(INR test), to exclude pulmonary embolism.
The results of these test will confirm the diagnosis for COPD.
You should avoid polluted environments to relieve cough and you should elevate the head of your bed in order to avoid reflux.
The treatment will contain macrolide antibiotic(when cough is aggravated), Bronchodilators and expectorant medicines.
Basing on the results of the above tests, your doctor will determine the medicines and the dosage that you need.
Contact your pulmonologist.
Ask me for anything unclear.
All the best.
Dr. Behar.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
I've been tested for it and do not have it.
Brief Answer:
Cardiac insufficiency(Heart failure)...
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for writing back.
If you have been tested and the results has shown that you don't suffer from COPD, then the other possibility is that you suffer from cardiac insufficiency(heart failure), more exactly right ventricular failure.
I think so, because heart failure is a complication of hypothyroidism, because hypothyroidism raises cholesterol and low density lipoprotein level and when these levels are raised heart complications are appeared.
To confirm the diagnosis you need the following tests:
- Chest X-ray.
- Echocardiography.
- Electrocardiogram(ECG test).
- Complete blood count.
- Blood test, including electrolytes (sodium , potassium) and C-reactive protein.
- Liver function test.
Consult your cardiologist.
If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Dr. Behar.
Cardiac insufficiency(Heart failure)...
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for writing back.
If you have been tested and the results has shown that you don't suffer from COPD, then the other possibility is that you suffer from cardiac insufficiency(heart failure), more exactly right ventricular failure.
I think so, because heart failure is a complication of hypothyroidism, because hypothyroidism raises cholesterol and low density lipoprotein level and when these levels are raised heart complications are appeared.
To confirm the diagnosis you need the following tests:
- Chest X-ray.
- Echocardiography.
- Electrocardiogram(ECG test).
- Complete blood count.
- Blood test, including electrolytes (sodium , potassium) and C-reactive protein.
- Liver function test.
Consult your cardiologist.
If you do not have any clarifications, you can close the discussion and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Dr. Behar.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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