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Suggest Treatment For Shortness Of Breath, Post Nasal Drip And Cough With Phlegm
Question: my nose stops up and cause a drainage which causes me to cough up phlem,and have a shortness of breath I have been treated for bronchitis but the breath treatment, antibiotics, and advair is not seeming to give me much relief. I have been to the emergency room twice within the past month with this symptom. what should I do?
Brief Answer:
Following advice;if persist:pulmonologist to consult;severe signs-go to ER.
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
I am sorry for the situation you are going through.
1. Bronchitis is often associated with runny nose or stiffness as part of upper respiratory tract being infected by virus or bacteria. At your age, it will take some time for the symptoms to subside.
2. Antibiotics and Advair can of help in reducing inflammation/infection and easing the symptoms.
3. It is also important to do aerosol-therapy to dissolve the phlegm and ease its clearing out of your respiratory tract.
Keeping the room when you stay/sleep well humidified is also very important.
Some of my patients have found it helpful taking frequent hot baths as the steam will help dissolve the phlegm.
Antihistaminics can also help; you can try some you find OTC.
Raise your head when sleeping (2 pillows can help) to ease breathing and avoid shortness of breath during night.
4. In severe cases, short-term use of injection cortisonics have shown to be effective in my patients. You need a prescription for that.
If after injections, you will still have the same symptoms, then, can continue with oral cortisonics as prescribed by your doctor.
5. In case you are currently having breathing difficulty, then, should go immediately to the ER.
Otherwise, the above-mentioned advice can be helpful.
6. As this has been going for some time now, I advise to consult with a pulmonologist (lung's disease doctor) for further evaluations and other specific treatment. Respiratory function test is necessary in this case to evaluate the function of your lungs.
Culture of nasal phlegms is advised to determine the right causative agent and the specific anti-biotic to use.
Wish fast recovery!
Dr.Albana
Following advice;if persist:pulmonologist to consult;severe signs-go to ER.
Detailed Answer:
Hi my dear,
I am sorry for the situation you are going through.
1. Bronchitis is often associated with runny nose or stiffness as part of upper respiratory tract being infected by virus or bacteria. At your age, it will take some time for the symptoms to subside.
2. Antibiotics and Advair can of help in reducing inflammation/infection and easing the symptoms.
3. It is also important to do aerosol-therapy to dissolve the phlegm and ease its clearing out of your respiratory tract.
Keeping the room when you stay/sleep well humidified is also very important.
Some of my patients have found it helpful taking frequent hot baths as the steam will help dissolve the phlegm.
Antihistaminics can also help; you can try some you find OTC.
Raise your head when sleeping (2 pillows can help) to ease breathing and avoid shortness of breath during night.
4. In severe cases, short-term use of injection cortisonics have shown to be effective in my patients. You need a prescription for that.
If after injections, you will still have the same symptoms, then, can continue with oral cortisonics as prescribed by your doctor.
5. In case you are currently having breathing difficulty, then, should go immediately to the ER.
Otherwise, the above-mentioned advice can be helpful.
6. As this has been going for some time now, I advise to consult with a pulmonologist (lung's disease doctor) for further evaluations and other specific treatment. Respiratory function test is necessary in this case to evaluate the function of your lungs.
Culture of nasal phlegms is advised to determine the right causative agent and the specific anti-biotic to use.
Wish fast recovery!
Dr.Albana
Note: Consult an experienced Otolaryngologist / ENT Specialist online for further follow up on ear, nose, and throat issues - Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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