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What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Clicking Sensation In Right Side?
Question: 21 year old male , regular marijuana smoker for 2.5 years. Quit 2 weeks ago due to shortness of breath, shortness of breath has been on/off for two weeks ,ocassional "clicking" sensation on right side when I take a deep breath. I have no cough, no fever, or wheezing. My girlfriend has recently gotten over the flu. What could be causing this? I also have a ulcerative colitis and iron deficiency.
Brief Answer:
iron deficiency or some respiratory infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello Young man,
Thanks for writing to us. i can understand your concern.
I appreciate that you have stopped marijuana. Shortness of breath is symptom of iron deficiency anemia. Intake of marijauna was likely worsening it. You have some improvement after stopping marijuana. "clicking' sound on deep breathing may be due to some respiratory infection or inflammation. Or it may be just sound of rib cage movement.
I suggest going for respiratory examination by doctor as well as chest x-ray if needed.
Let me know your complete blood count including hemoglobin level.
- Is there history of fever or cough?
I will be happy to help further after your response.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
iron deficiency or some respiratory infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello Young man,
Thanks for writing to us. i can understand your concern.
I appreciate that you have stopped marijuana. Shortness of breath is symptom of iron deficiency anemia. Intake of marijauna was likely worsening it. You have some improvement after stopping marijuana. "clicking' sound on deep breathing may be due to some respiratory infection or inflammation. Or it may be just sound of rib cage movement.
I suggest going for respiratory examination by doctor as well as chest x-ray if needed.
Let me know your complete blood count including hemoglobin level.
- Is there history of fever or cough?
I will be happy to help further after your response.
Regards,
Dr.Chintan Solanki.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My hemoglobin is 14 but my iron count was low, around 30. And it wasn't a clicking sound but more of a clicking sensation occasionally when taking a deep breath. I've had no fever and no cough to this point.
Brief Answer:
nothing to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for clarification.
No fever, no cough and 14 Hb are favouring normal situation. Clicking sensation is normal when someone actively takes deep breath. It may be just due to anxiety which is common in marijauna withdrawals. When these symptoms are not affecting daily routine, no need of any treatment is there. However this may last up to 8-10 weeks considering your 2.5 years intake.
Or else you can consult doctor for examination and short term anti anxiety medicine course to make you comfortable completely.
Take care.
nothing to worry
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for clarification.
No fever, no cough and 14 Hb are favouring normal situation. Clicking sensation is normal when someone actively takes deep breath. It may be just due to anxiety which is common in marijauna withdrawals. When these symptoms are not affecting daily routine, no need of any treatment is there. However this may last up to 8-10 weeks considering your 2.5 years intake.
Or else you can consult doctor for examination and short term anti anxiety medicine course to make you comfortable completely.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My only concern is that the onset of shortness of breath occurred after my last night of smoking which I smoked I would say smoked a good amount that night. However , breathing has gotten better since I smoked last.
Brief Answer:
better to quit smoking
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up. Sorry for delayed response.
It seems that smoking is causing problem. You have improved as you did not smoke again. Better to stop smoking.
I also suggest going for pulmonary function test (PFT) and chest x-ray to assess basic respiratory function.
If still any query there, I will be happy to answer. If not, you can close the discussion and if feasible give your feedback and rating so I can improve my service.
In future you can contact me directly on this site if you wish with this link:
http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki
by clicking on 'Ask me a question' on same page with three follow up questions.
Take care dear.
better to quit smoking
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for follow up. Sorry for delayed response.
It seems that smoking is causing problem. You have improved as you did not smoke again. Better to stop smoking.
I also suggest going for pulmonary function test (PFT) and chest x-ray to assess basic respiratory function.
If still any query there, I will be happy to answer. If not, you can close the discussion and if feasible give your feedback and rating so I can improve my service.
In future you can contact me directly on this site if you wish with this link:
http://bit.ly/drchintansolanki
by clicking on 'Ask me a question' on same page with three follow up questions.
Take care dear.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Do you think this could be contributed to a potential lung cancer ? Even though I feel I've been improving since I quit smoking.
Brief Answer:
not likely
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for query. No, there is no possibility that symptom is contributing to lung cancer as it is improving. There are no other symptoms which can make us thin abut that possibility.
I recommended routine lung check only as a routine measure, to reassure you as well as to motivate you for stopping smoking.
Take care dear.
not likely
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for query. No, there is no possibility that symptom is contributing to lung cancer as it is improving. There are no other symptoms which can make us thin abut that possibility.
I recommended routine lung check only as a routine measure, to reassure you as well as to motivate you for stopping smoking.
Take care dear.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Not sure if this changes changes your thoughts but I noticed that "clicking sensation" I get only occurs when I exhale , and the sensation is only on my right side towards my uppermost ribs. I have not had any injuries of the rib or back recently.
Brief Answer:
examination and investigations will clear your doubts
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
There is some possibility of some mechanical problem of breathing.
From your history no significant problem seems to be there.
Physical examination, chest x-ray, PFT and if needed bonchoscopy will help to rule out any problem.
Take care.
examination and investigations will clear your doubts
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
There is some possibility of some mechanical problem of breathing.
From your history no significant problem seems to be there.
Physical examination, chest x-ray, PFT and if needed bonchoscopy will help to rule out any problem.
Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
What do you mean by mechanical problem, like a spasm ? It's been a very peculiar situation, although I feel my breathing is improving, I do have moments where I feel slightly out of breath just sitting around . But yet at the gym the other day I ran a 7 minute mile with ease.
Something also worth noting, these symptoms occurred the morning after a heavy night of smoking, being around friends who were sick with flus, and it was very very cold out not sure if any of those could factor into the mechanical problems you mentioned. Also reason I've been writing to you and haven't seen a doctor yet is I go away to school so I was going to wait two weeks for my spring break so I can get checked out near home. However, if for whatever reason you felt whatever's going on with my breathing could be a serious issue I would get checked out before then.
Something also worth noting, these symptoms occurred the morning after a heavy night of smoking, being around friends who were sick with flus, and it was very very cold out not sure if any of those could factor into the mechanical problems you mentioned. Also reason I've been writing to you and haven't seen a doctor yet is I go away to school so I was going to wait two weeks for my spring break so I can get checked out near home. However, if for whatever reason you felt whatever's going on with my breathing could be a serious issue I would get checked out before then.
Brief Answer:
Not a serious issue
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Mechanical obstruction means there is some obstruction in respiratory movements in lungs. Obstructive lung diseases include conditions that make it hard to exhale all the air in the lungs. People with restrictive lung disease have difficulty fully expanding their lungs with air.
The most common causes of obstructive lung disease are:
-Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis.
Smoking is the most common cause of this type of problem.
From your history you seem to have this type of problem but of course there is no major obstructive lung disease. I recommended evaluation to check baseline lung functions and ultimately prevention is better than cure. As you have stopped smoking and you are improving, there is no serious matter.
You can wait for appointment of your doctor, no need to hurry.
Hope you are clear about your all concerns now.
Not a serious issue
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Mechanical obstruction means there is some obstruction in respiratory movements in lungs. Obstructive lung diseases include conditions that make it hard to exhale all the air in the lungs. People with restrictive lung disease have difficulty fully expanding their lungs with air.
The most common causes of obstructive lung disease are:
-Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis.
Smoking is the most common cause of this type of problem.
From your history you seem to have this type of problem but of course there is no major obstructive lung disease. I recommended evaluation to check baseline lung functions and ultimately prevention is better than cure. As you have stopped smoking and you are improving, there is no serious matter.
You can wait for appointment of your doctor, no need to hurry.
Hope you are clear about your all concerns now.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Deepak
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