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What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Unexplained Cough?

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Posted on Thu, 11 Dec 2014
Question: I have developed shortness of breath. I was running 20 minutes a day for 2 miles and then suddenly I could not go more that 1 mile or 10 minutes. I noticed tadalafil started to help so I started to take that. I also had an unexplained cough. I was able to go up to 2 miles in 20 minutes. but I still had shortness of breath.
I saw the doctor I had blood work the abnormal parts og my test my LDL went down from 38 to 28 my tryglicirides shot up from 135 to 238.
I was given an xray , Doppler echocardiogram and qe scan that was normal. I had an oximetry test that was normal and a Pulmonary function test that showed a slight improvement with albeuterol. The pulmonologist told me he does not believe I have PAH and to stop taking the tadafil and just gave me the albeutarol.
The amount I could run on the treadmill declined drastically and after 3 days I could do no more than 5 minutes the pulmonologist said to make an appointment in 2 months. I had pain in both my right side and left side of my chest the left side felt as if it was getting heavier. So I decided to treat myself I went back on the tadafil and I had singulair which helped but I still had shortness of breath while ecercising.
I also had high blood pressure I was taking losartan, I stopped taking that and started to take an ace inhibitor enalapril that helped quite a lot at first but then again my exercise capacity started to decline.
The question is I Have is what condition di you think I have , I think it has do something with my left heart since enalapril helped and a left sided problem since tadalafil a PE5 inhibitor helped or could it be something else like Myocarditis or endocarditis

Other: current condition; psoriatic arthritis medicine, stalerra and metaforim
Past medicine: humira Sulfasalazine, methotrexate, losartan

doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Lab reports are needed...

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I have gone through your medical history and understood your concerns.

Before running final conclusions, I'd like to have the results of ultrasound and ct-scan.

If ultrasound is unremarkable, then, your symptoms might be due to pulmonar hypertension secondary to psoriasis or primary.

If not normal, then, should run further diagnostic examinations.

However, I still need to have your lab reports in!
Dr. Benard
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Benard Shehu (2 hours later)
I don’t have a CT scan, just a chest xray and a Doppler echo of the heart that both the doctor said was normal and no abnormalities.
How can you tell if it is primary or secondary?
Why would it be such a rapid decline in breathing function?
And how could everything else be ruled out?
What is the treatment for primary and secondary PAH?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Benard Shehu (22 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Other causes to be treated as well...

Detailed Answer:
Hi back,

Thank you for your follow up queries!

1. Sometimes, psoriasis is often associated with pulmonary hypertension.
However, pulmonary Ct-scan is advised to rule out other causes.

2. The rapid decline in respiratory function is due to bad medication. The fact that his status is improved and then, it was aggravating after stopping the medications; this is indicating that he needs another course of medications (not to stop them).

3. With regards to treatment, it is equal for primary and secondary causes. The difference stays in the fact that in the secondary hypertension, the underlying causes (psoriasis) should be also treated.

All the best!
Dr.Benard
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Benard Shehu

Cardiologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 2257 Questions

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What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Unexplained Cough?

Brief Answer: Lab reports are needed... Detailed Answer: Hi, I have gone through your medical history and understood your concerns. Before running final conclusions, I'd like to have the results of ultrasound and ct-scan. If ultrasound is unremarkable, then, your symptoms might be due to pulmonar hypertension secondary to psoriasis or primary. If not normal, then, should run further diagnostic examinations. However, I still need to have your lab reports in! Dr. Benard