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What Causes Pain In Lungs While Coughing And Cold?

Posted on Sat, 27 Feb 2016

Question: For quite some time my lungs have hurt me. I it is not pleurisy as I've had that in the past but my lungs actually hurts when I cough if I lay down on my back. I have had a cold that has lasted for almost a month and although I have coughed a lot this lung situation started prior to my cold. It has exacerbated with the cold but because my father had emphysema and my mother lung cancer I am quite concerned.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (32 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Possibility of acute bronchitis is more.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you are mostly having acute bronchitis.
It is common after viral upper respiratory tract infection (cold).
So no need to worry for emphysema and cancer.
But I would like to know few more things.
1. Do you smoke?
2. Do you ever had hemoptysis (blood in sputum)?
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 (32 minutes later)

I do not present I have quit about four years ago however I smoked for a very long time about 50 years. There is no blood in my sputum my cough is a very dry cough are and if there is some residue it is clear I did I was . I did take a Z pack five-day antibiotic and it didn't seem to make any difference to my cold so I'm not sure about the bronchitis because it's been within the same timeframe.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Have you ever undergone chest x ray?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So you were heavy smoker.
So possibility of emphysema is more.
Please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone chest x ray?
2. Since how many days you are having these symptoms?
3. Did you have any symptoms in the past?
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 (8 minutes later)

Yes I have had chest x-rays in the past and the present I don't remember how long it's been but it's been at least I would save for five years. I started feeling some discomfort in my lungs probably about 2 to 3 months ago I'm not in extreme pain however one notices the differences in at first I thought it was and exercising injury but then it continued and I realized it was not from my working out it was another reason does emphysema HURT ? I know there is no real cure for emphysema so what are my options? Is continued and I biotics of any consequence?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (7 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
First get done PFT.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
It's very difficult to say that you are having emphysema only on the basis of symptoms.
PFT (Pulmonary Function Test) is must for the diagnosis of emphysema.
It will not only diagnose emphysema but it will also tell you about severity of the disease.
And treatment of emphysema is based on severity only.
So please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone PFT?
2. Are you taking any drugs other than z pack at present?
3. Have you ever tried inhaled treatment?
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 (10 minutes later)

I've never had a PFT test I will it will be asking my doctor to give me one of those however in the very near future as well as a possible x-ray to my chest. I take several different medications however none are related to lung functions I take down the Plavix as I had a TIA it back into thousand and one I also take blood pressure medication and diuretics. I do not experience any shortness of breath when exercising and I am fairly active and add on the treadmill I go at least 3.1 mph and at a 4 1/2 inclined so I do feel that that is certainly indicative of no shortness of breath I do usually go to just 3 miles a day on the treadmill. So I realize I may have some symptoms of emphysema but I do believe if that is the case it's in the early stages. The most bothersome saying to me at the present time is the actual discomfort in the lung area

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, you might have early emphysema.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Health Care Magic.
I can understand your concern.
In my opinion, you should definitely get done PFT as soon as possible because possibility of early emphysema is more in your case.
Also get done chest x ray to rule out other lung pathology.
And yes, emphysema can cause hurt in lung. It actually causes persistent inflammation in the lung and this can hurt.
So get done PFT and if it is suggestive of emphysema then you may need inhaled treatment.
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