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Having Cough And Feeling Heaviness In Chest. Pneumonia Or Bronchitis?

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Posted on Sat, 16 Mar 2013
Question: My chest feels heavy and I have a horrible cough it is not a dry cough and the phlem doesn't have blood??
Pneumonia or bronchitis or neither? Help!!!
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Answered by Dr. Enrique Molina (21 minutes later)
Hi XXXXXXX, I will be happy to assist.
It is hard to say what is the cause of your symtpoms, but the most common cause of your symptoms is a viral infection, although a bacterial infection could also be the cause.
If you do not have shortness of breath or severe chest pain then you should rest, take plenty of fluids. You could also take over the counter medications that contains Guaifenesin (expectorant) and dextrometorphan (cough suppressant), which are the medications within for example Robitussin DM, Mucinex, etc.
If your symptoms are severe or you have shortness of breath, or do not start to improve within 48 hours you should visit a physician for further evaluation and possible antibiotic treatment.
Hope that helps, let me know if you have any further questions or concerns
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Enrique Molina

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 364 Questions

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Having Cough And Feeling Heaviness In Chest. Pneumonia Or Bronchitis?

Hi XXXXXXX, I will be happy to assist.
It is hard to say what is the cause of your symtpoms, but the most common cause of your symptoms is a viral infection, although a bacterial infection could also be the cause.
If you do not have shortness of breath or severe chest pain then you should rest, take plenty of fluids. You could also take over the counter medications that contains Guaifenesin (expectorant) and dextrometorphan (cough suppressant), which are the medications within for example Robitussin DM, Mucinex, etc.
If your symptoms are severe or you have shortness of breath, or do not start to improve within 48 hours you should visit a physician for further evaluation and possible antibiotic treatment.
Hope that helps, let me know if you have any further questions or concerns