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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Breathlessness And Hacking Cough After Quitting Smoking?

I am a little worried about some affects that I m feeling since quitting smoking. It s been approx 3 weeks and I am now having shortness of breath, dry hacking cough and a metallic taste in my mouth at times. I initially thought this maybe a side effect of using champix but I stopped using that about 5 days ago and I am still having troubles.
Mon, 2 May 2016
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hi dear,

Thanks for choosing HCM.

The symptoms you mentioned looks like common side effects of smoking cessation. Usually after someone stops smoking the body starts repairing itself from all damages caused by smoking.some times shortness of breath could be due nicotine withdrawal symptom as a sign that the body needs the nicotine it got used to, don't worry it will stop soon.. Since your airway passages are also affected and damaged by smoking the dry cough could be a sign of repairing and the same applies to the metallic taste.

However in some cases dry cough accompanied by metallic test could be a sign of disease known as GERD or an underlying respiratory infection specially if you have fever..

I suggest you to visit Doctor, so appropriate tests can be done. If you show negative results to GERD or respiratory infection then you don't need to take any medication and just wait till your body clears out all the dirt caused by smoking.

I should congratulate you for taking the right step to stop smoking and in my opinion the symptoms you see are only a sign of how your body was damaged by this bad habit and now is under reconstruction. Once it all clears out you will be thanking yourself even more..


Hope this helped

Wish you all the best
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What Causes Breathlessness And Hacking Cough After Quitting Smoking?

Hi dear, Thanks for choosing HCM. The symptoms you mentioned looks like common side effects of smoking cessation. Usually after someone stops smoking the body starts repairing itself from all damages caused by smoking.some times shortness of breath could be due nicotine withdrawal symptom as a sign that the body needs the nicotine it got used to, don t worry it will stop soon.. Since your airway passages are also affected and damaged by smoking the dry cough could be a sign of repairing and the same applies to the metallic taste. However in some cases dry cough accompanied by metallic test could be a sign of disease known as GERD or an underlying respiratory infection specially if you have fever.. I suggest you to visit Doctor, so appropriate tests can be done. If you show negative results to GERD or respiratory infection then you don t need to take any medication and just wait till your body clears out all the dirt caused by smoking. I should congratulate you for taking the right step to stop smoking and in my opinion the symptoms you see are only a sign of how your body was damaged by this bad habit and now is under reconstruction. Once it all clears out you will be thanking yourself even more.. Hope this helped Wish you all the best