Bronchial Airways

Dear Ask The Doctor: I'm on 2 inhalers, nasonex, nexium. my lungs are perfect. i've had this cough for a year.I'm seeing a lung specialist. I don't have a lot of energy, and decreeed air. what could the next step be?

Dear Joan: Hello, I realize how concerned you are about your condition. According to your narration, you have been suffering from cough since a year ago. If the cough is accompanied by mucus a possibility of having Chronic Bronchitis might be present, fatigue is also a common presentation as well as shortness of breath and wheezing.

There could be also other possibilities that may cause your cough and depending if it’s productive or non productive the treatment could also differ from one to the other. In my opinion you will need to have a more detailed clinic history and physical exam especially listening to your lungs and possibly some blood work to get to the right diagnosis.

I agree with your consultation with the Pneumologist which is the lung specialist, I will say that he might ask for a lung function test or Spirometry to confirm if you really have a decrease in the air going into your lungs or exiting it, possible chest x rays especially if you are a smoker and if you have sputum he might also ask for a sputum sample to rule out any infections.

In the meantime I will suggest you to drink plenty of fluids and watch for other symptoms such as chest pain, pain in your left shoulder, lack of air sensation especially after exercise or during rest.