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Suggest Treatment For Severe Cough, Cold And Breathlessness

Posted on Tue, 16 Feb 2016

Question: I face breathlessness quite a lot of time. While I am walking, talking or climbing up the stairs or sometimes even when i'm just lying down. When i sleep i feel that it takes lot of effort for me to breath. I can't complete one whole sentence when I am talking while walking. I don't have cold or cough. Is it something for which I should see a doctor or is it just due to the season?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You should definitely consult pulmonologist first.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you should definitely consult pulmonologist.
Possibility of either asthma or bronchitis is more in your case.
So consult pulmonologist and get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system
2. PFT (Pulmonary Function Test).
PFT will not only diagnose these diseases but it will also tell about severity of the disease and treatment is based on severity only.
You may need inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).
Don't worry, you will be alright.
First diagnose yourself and then start appropriate treatment.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 hours later)

Thanks for your help.
Just wanted to clarify a bit more, problem is less of breathlessness and more of heavy breathing. Do i still need to worry?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Do you have stressful life?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
First let me know few things.
1. Do you have stressful life?
2. Since how many days you are having these symptoms?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (26 minutes later)

No, i don't have any stressful life. Sometimes there is some work pressure but that doesn't stress me out.
I am facing these symptoms since 2-3 months but earlier it used to happen only when i used to talk while walking or climbing up the stairs. But since last 2-3 weeks i feel that even while walking normally i face heavy breathing.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (4 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Have you checked for hemoglobin level?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You are having breathing difficulty which is progressive in nature.
It can be seen in anaemia and thyroid diseases also.
So please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone hemoglobin estimation?
2. Have you ever undergone thyroid function test?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (16 minutes later)

I had donated blood in September, before donating blood my HB count was around 11.5-12 and after about one week, i got my HB count around 9.
I didn't get HB test after that.

Also, i haven't undergone any thyroid function test.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You should definitely get done repeat hemoglobin estimation.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
You had lower hemoglobin level in September. So it is likely that you are anemic now and this is the likely cause for your breathing difficulty.
Please let me know
1. Are you taking any iron tablets?
2. Do you have heavy menstruation?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (22 minutes later)

I took iron tablets for 3-4 days after i got HB tests done
I have normal menstrual cycle

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
You should get done repeat hemoglobin level.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you are mostly having anemia and related symptoms.
So get done repeat hemoglobin level and start iron tablets.
If hemoglobin is less than 7 then you may need blood transfusion.
Treatment of anemia is for 5-6 months. So take your iron tablets regularly.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)

Thanks for your help sir. Just one last query, now do i still need to see a Pulmonologist for respiratory symptoms?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
If your hemoglobin is low then no need to consult pulmonologist.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
If your hemoglobin level is low then no need to consult pulmonologist.
Your symptoms are mostly due to low hemoglobin.
So correct anemia and you will be alright.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly /askdrkaushalbhavsar. Do let me know your progess. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar