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What Causes Shortness Of Breath At Night And Fits Of Coughing?

Posted on Fri, 24 Jun 2016

Question: I'm having shortness of breath at strange times, sometimes during the night. I'm active and excise regularly but don't often experience it then. I sometimes have fits of coughing, often during the night, and yesterday during my exercise class. We moved to XXXXXXX in November 2016 but I didn't notice the shortness of breath until the last month or so. No fever or other symptoms. Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Allergy?

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

it seems likely that an allergic (or hypersensitivity) reaction occurs and causes the symptoms. Since you're OK in the meantime the allergic etiology fits your case. You should visit a pulmonologist for appropriate testing (including spirometry). If you have any history of bronchial asthma, it could be mild asthmatic attacks. Other things to check include your heart function with an echo. Concurrent symptoms of allergy like itching (nose, eyes, body), sneezing, etc would increase the likelihood of an allergic etiology.

So in conclusion, you should check your lungs and heart starting with a visit to a pulmonologist. If you've already done so, please upload the doctor's report for further discussion.

Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (8 minutes later)

Thank you. Allergies make sense. My eye doctor recently said she saw signs of allergies in my eyes. Should I try an over the counter allergy medication? If so what would you recommend? Also I have no history of asthma but could that come on later in life?
This has been helpful.
Thanks again. XXXXXXX

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
antihistamine may help

Detailed Answer:
You're welcome Sarah!

Allergies may cause it. An antihistamine may help. Asthma is usually a disease of the young. Asthma occurrence in patients of your age may raise suspicions for other diagnoses like Churg-Strauss syndrome. The pulmonologist should guide you further.

Kind Regards!

Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar