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What Causes Lung Disease Along With Cough?

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Posted on Mon, 1 Dec 2014
Question: I work in an office next to where they store and charge and old Cushman, battery operated. When we plug in the Cushman I can smell it charging. Now I have developed a lung problem and cough. My doctor says my lungs look as if I work around chemicals. Could the Cushman fumes and my medical issues be related?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Parin N. Parmar (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Please provide more details

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thank you for asking at HCM.

I went through your history and would like to know more about you as follows:

a. What are your lung symptoms? Since how long? Are they persistent or they improve and worsen over time?

b. What is the diagnosis put by doctor? What are the investigations done?

c. Do you have any other nose/throat problems?

d. Do you have any other medical conditions? Do you need to take any other drugs regularly/frequently? (Some drugs and medical conditions also may be associated with some type of lung problems)

e. Do you smoke? Are you exposed to second-hand smoke at home/office? Are you often exposed to dusts/smokes/fumes etc.

Please provide above details on follow-up. It will help me to understand your complaints better.

This is very important as we are exposed to many types of chemicals in our day to day life, for example, printer ink (if one has printer in office), deodorants, air fresheners, perfumes, vehicle exhausts, insecticidal sprays, cigarette smoke, etc etc... the list is unending..

Different types of chemicals can cause different types of lung diseases like asthma, COLD (chronic occupational lung disease), interstitial lung disease, etc. It is important to diagnose the lung condition first before suspecting a culprit chemical.

Broadly speaking, all the above mentioned chemicals, practically any dusts, smokes or fumes contribute to air pollution, be it indoor or outdoor air. Long standing exposure to any of such substances can affect lung health.

In general, were I treating you, I would suggest you to avoid exposure to any fume (including Cushman fume), dusts and smokes as you have a lung disease. Whether Cushman fumes have contributed to your disease can only be decided after knowing your disease and ruling out other factors that also may have contributed to the lung problem.

Hope above information will be helpful to you.

Please provide more details on follow-up. Please feel free to ask on follow-up if any query.

Wish you the best of the health ahead.

Thank you & Regards,

Dr Parin N Parmar
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Parin N. Parmar (1 hour later)
My lung symptoms are shortness of breath and I have developed a chronic cough. Started about 6-8 months ago and is getting worse. My voice is staying hoarse. I do not smoke. I was transferred to this office approximately 2 years ago. The Cushman is charged just outside my office on a daily basis. It is in the Receiving Area and I am at times in the same room checking in packages as it is being charges. The air return from this area and the bay that holds our campus vehicles pumps directly into my office and the hallway surrounding my office. My doctor just did a CT scan on my lungs (which I do not have the results from) after detecting something on an X-ray that indicated I worked around chemicals. I take a number of drugs on a regular basis. (Gemfibrozil, Bisoprolol, Lexapro, Lozartan Potassium, Vytorin. I am trying to rule out this being an L & I situation. But if I need to file such a claim I would like to do it now, since I am getting worse every day and the air flow is not going to change at work.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Parin N. Parmar (21 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
A compete and confirmed diagnosis is necessary

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thank you for your follow-up.

As I had mentioned previously, repeated/persistent exposure to fumes/smokes can cause symptoms like cough/shortness of breath.

However, to particularly point to a particular substance as a causative agent, it is necessary to have a complete diagnosis. After knowing diagnosis only, further comments can be made. As for a particular diagnosis there are many possible causes, both known and unknown.

As you are taking so many drugs regularly, it is possible that that your other medical conditions also may have contributed to your lung problems. In that case, it is again difficult to specifically point to a particular substance as a cause.

A complete diagnosis of a lung disease needs X-ray, CT scan (as you have already done) and sometimes lung function tests, and your complete medical profile. Without a confirmed and complete diagnosis, it is not possible to say whether the Cushman fume has caused it.

Even if you want to file a claim, you will need to have a complete and confirmed diagnosis of what your lung problem exactly is.

Hope above information will help you.

Wish you the best of the health ahead.

Thank you & Regards,

Dr Parin N Parmar
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Parin N. Parmar

Allergist and Immunologist

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 870 Questions

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What Causes Lung Disease Along With Cough?

Brief Answer: Please provide more details Detailed Answer: Hello, Thank you for asking at HCM. I went through your history and would like to know more about you as follows: a. What are your lung symptoms? Since how long? Are they persistent or they improve and worsen over time? b. What is the diagnosis put by doctor? What are the investigations done? c. Do you have any other nose/throat problems? d. Do you have any other medical conditions? Do you need to take any other drugs regularly/frequently? (Some drugs and medical conditions also may be associated with some type of lung problems) e. Do you smoke? Are you exposed to second-hand smoke at home/office? Are you often exposed to dusts/smokes/fumes etc. Please provide above details on follow-up. It will help me to understand your complaints better. This is very important as we are exposed to many types of chemicals in our day to day life, for example, printer ink (if one has printer in office), deodorants, air fresheners, perfumes, vehicle exhausts, insecticidal sprays, cigarette smoke, etc etc... the list is unending.. Different types of chemicals can cause different types of lung diseases like asthma, COLD (chronic occupational lung disease), interstitial lung disease, etc. It is important to diagnose the lung condition first before suspecting a culprit chemical. Broadly speaking, all the above mentioned chemicals, practically any dusts, smokes or fumes contribute to air pollution, be it indoor or outdoor air. Long standing exposure to any of such substances can affect lung health. In general, were I treating you, I would suggest you to avoid exposure to any fume (including Cushman fume), dusts and smokes as you have a lung disease. Whether Cushman fumes have contributed to your disease can only be decided after knowing your disease and ruling out other factors that also may have contributed to the lung problem. Hope above information will be helpful to you. Please provide more details on follow-up. Please feel free to ask on follow-up if any query. Wish you the best of the health ahead. Thank you & Regards, Dr Parin N Parmar