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Suggest Treatment For Severe Productive Cough In An Elderly Person
Question: My question is about my boss. not sure if you will be able to answer.
She is about 71 yrs old. White Jewish middle eastern. non smoker.
She is coughing A LOT. All the time, she has no real rest. She believes its allergies, and has been to a doctor. Nothing seems to work. Its severe coughing attacks. sometimes so bad she has phlegm. Most times she can't even have a conversation because she starts to cough. Any ideas?
She is about 71 yrs old. White Jewish middle eastern. non smoker.
She is coughing A LOT. All the time, she has no real rest. She believes its allergies, and has been to a doctor. Nothing seems to work. Its severe coughing attacks. sometimes so bad she has phlegm. Most times she can't even have a conversation because she starts to cough. Any ideas?
Brief Answer:
Get done chest x ray and PFT.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your boss 's situation and problem.
Since she is smoker, possibility of either lung infection or COPD (chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease) is more in her case.
Smokers are known to have poor lung defense, so possibility of lung Infection is high.
And smoking is well known risk factor for COPD.
And in both these conditions, chronic cough and breathlessness are seen.
So consult pulmonologist and ask her to get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system
2. Chest x ray to rule out lung infection
3. PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) for the diagnosis of COPD.
First diagnose herself and then start appropriate treatment.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your boss.
Thanks.
Get done chest x ray and PFT.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your boss 's situation and problem.
Since she is smoker, possibility of either lung infection or COPD (chronic obstructive Pulmonary disease) is more in her case.
Smokers are known to have poor lung defense, so possibility of lung Infection is high.
And smoking is well known risk factor for COPD.
And in both these conditions, chronic cough and breathlessness are seen.
So consult pulmonologist and ask her to get done
1. Clinical examination of respiratory system
2. Chest x ray to rule out lung infection
3. PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) for the diagnosis of COPD.
First diagnose herself and then start appropriate treatment.
Hope I have solved your query.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wishing good health to your boss.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hello
I wrote that she is a NON smoker. Can you please revise your answer :) OR could she have COPD without smoking??
I wrote that she is a NON smoker. Can you please revise your answer :) OR could she have COPD without smoking??
Brief Answer:
Yes, COPD can be seen without smoking history.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
Sorry for the mistake. I read it hurrily.
Yes, COPD can be seen in nonsmokers.
Age more than 60 is and independent risk factor for COPD.
And her all symptoms, like chronic constant cough, breathlessness, phlegm etc are commonly seen in COPD.
All these symptoms are also seen in lung infection like pneumonia. Old age is also a risk factor for pneumonia.
So pneumonia and COPD should be ruled out in her case.
So ask her to consult pulmonologist and get done chest x ray and PFT.
She may need antibiotics, antihistamines, inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid.
Hope I have solved your query. Sorry again for the misunderstanding. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your boss. Thanks.
Yes, COPD can be seen without smoking history.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
Sorry for the mistake. I read it hurrily.
Yes, COPD can be seen in nonsmokers.
Age more than 60 is and independent risk factor for COPD.
And her all symptoms, like chronic constant cough, breathlessness, phlegm etc are commonly seen in COPD.
All these symptoms are also seen in lung infection like pneumonia. Old age is also a risk factor for pneumonia.
So pneumonia and COPD should be ruled out in her case.
So ask her to consult pulmonologist and get done chest x ray and PFT.
She may need antibiotics, antihistamines, inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid.
Hope I have solved your query. Sorry again for the misunderstanding. I will be happy to help you further. Wishing good health to your boss. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you! I googled COPD and it does seem, that its that.
Brief Answer:
Thanks for your kind words.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
And thanks again for your kind words.
It's always encouraging for doctors to hear positive feedback from patients. I am truely obliged. Thanks again.
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.
Wishing good health to your boss.
Thanks.
Thanks for your kind words.
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
And thanks again for your kind words.
It's always encouraging for doctors to hear positive feedback from patients. I am truely obliged. Thanks again.
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.
Wishing good health to your boss.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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