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What Causes Persistent Cough In A Chain Smoker?
Question: I am 24 male i got mild mottled opacities in right lower lung during routine. Doctor said it isnt serious. Is it? Some cought from 2-3 day. Smoke 3 yr 2 cigs/d
Without seeing the chest X-ray, its hard for me to be able to say whether it is concerning or not, but I strongly advise you quit smoking. This is a very hard thing to do but there is a variety of help: Zyban (wellbutrin) can relieve the urges to smoke and feeling down. Regarding the X-ray, if you are unsure if your dr. is correct, ask to see the radiologist's recommendations for follow up.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have already quit smoking.
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I see the opacification's in the right lower lung in the chest X-ray you uploaded. They are quite small, which makes them less concerning, and could be from previous respiratory infections. Sometimes when the lung tissue heals after an infection, there is a bit of scarring which has calcium in it, and that is what shows up on an X-ray. You are young, which decreases your risk of this being due to a malignancy. But I think, as this is not a perfectly normal chest X-ray, it should be repeated. I would give around a month to 6 weeks and then repeat the chest X-ray. If it continues to be abnormal, your doctor should discuss with a pulmonary specialist, and get further studies such as a chest CT or MRI.
I looked at your white blood count report and that looks very good.
I am very glad you quit smoking. Excellent! Smoking increases the risk of so very many health problems throughout the body, and quitting tobacco will, over time, remove those risks.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
I see the opacification's in the right lower lung in the chest X-ray you uploaded. They are quite small, which makes them less concerning, and could be from previous respiratory infections. Sometimes when the lung tissue heals after an infection, there is a bit of scarring which has calcium in it, and that is what shows up on an X-ray. You are young, which decreases your risk of this being due to a malignancy. But I think, as this is not a perfectly normal chest X-ray, it should be repeated. I would give around a month to 6 weeks and then repeat the chest X-ray. If it continues to be abnormal, your doctor should discuss with a pulmonary specialist, and get further studies such as a chest CT or MRI.
I looked at your white blood count report and that looks very good.
I am very glad you quit smoking. Excellent! Smoking increases the risk of so very many health problems throughout the body, and quitting tobacco will, over time, remove those risks.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
It's not cancer, right?
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
It does not look to be. The opacifications are very small, making it unlikely at this time. But I do think follow up to make sure they go away or don't get bigger is important.
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Detailed Answer:
It does not look to be. The opacifications are very small, making it unlikely at this time. But I do think follow up to make sure they go away or don't get bigger is important.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
By the way three weeks back i had clear xray. Since i am on bp meds n couple of antibiotics, amlodipine 5mg and ciplox for last 5 days for viral Course is over now. If i dont get chronic cough withing nxt few weeks i guess i need not a xray?
Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:
It would still be a good idea to follow up on this. Any time there is something seen on a chest X-ray, it is always good to follow up.
The likelihood of the opacities being anything to be concerned about is low because, as you said, they weren't seen 3 weeks ago.
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Detailed Answer:
It would still be a good idea to follow up on this. Any time there is something seen on a chest X-ray, it is always good to follow up.
The likelihood of the opacities being anything to be concerned about is low because, as you said, they weren't seen 3 weeks ago.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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