HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

question-icon

What Causes Shortness Of Breath Along With Cough?

default
Posted on Sat, 13 Dec 2014
Question: I have developed shortness of breath. I was running 20 minutes a day for 2 miles and then suddenly I could not go more that 1 mile or 10 minutes. I noticed tadalafil started to help so I started to take that. I also had an unexplained cough. I was able to go up to 2 miles in 20 minutes. but I still had shortness of breath.
I saw the doctor I had blood work the abnormal parts og my test my LDL went down from 38 to 28 my tryglicirides shot up from 135 to 238.
I was given an xray , Doppler echocardiogram and qe scan that was normal. I had an oximetry test that was normal and a Pulmonary function test that showed a slight improvement with albeuterol. The pulmonologist told me he does not believe I have PAH and to stop taking the tadafil and just gave me the albeutarol.
The amount I could run on the treadmill declined drastically and after 3 days I could do no more than 5 minutes the pulmonologist said to make an appointment in 2 months. I had pain in both my right side and left side of my chest the left side felt as if it was getting heavier. So I decided to treat myself I went back on the tadafil and I had singulair which helped but I still had shortness of breath while ecercising.
I also had high blood pressure I was taking losartan, I stopped taking that and started to take an ace inhibitor enalapril that helped quite a lot at first but then again my exercise capacity started to decline.
The question is I Have is what condition di you think I have , I think it has do something with my left heart since enalapril helped and a left sided problem since tadalafil a PE5 inhibitor helped or could it be something else like Myocarditis or endocarditis

Other: current condition; psoriatic arthritis medicine, stalerra and metaforim
Past medicine: humira Sulfasalazine, methotrexate, losartan
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
get done coronary angiography.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM.
In my opinion you are having hypertensive left sided heart damage. And this can lead to secondary pulmonary hypertension ( WHO classification type 3). And type 3 pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is the most common type since cardiac diseases are very common.
You are having high triglycerides and high blood pressure, both are independent risk factors for coronary artery disease.
So my suggestion to you is get done coronary angiography to rule out coronary artery disease as a cause for your breathlessness.
And in my opinion you should start low dose diuretic and calcium channel blocker. Both of these drugs will be helpful in systematic as well as pulmonary hypertension.
So consult cardiologist and get done coronary angiography and discuss all these.
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. Raju A.T
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (1 hour later)
I had an EkG and echo cardiograhm of the heart and they were both normal?
I also had blurred vision and dizziness I don’t know if there is a connection.
What’s better here for blood pressure an ace inhibitor or losartan for blood pressure?
If so which ace inhibitor?
What, diuretics, calcium Chanel blockers are best?
Is there anything else other than that that could be done?
Thanks,
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 hours later)
Brief Answer:
blurred vision and dizziness are due to high BP.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question.
In my opinion your blurred vision and dizziness are due to hypertension only. Hypertension can damage retinal vessels and so produce blurred vision. And this blurred vision causes headache and dizziness. Hypertension itself can cause dizziness if not properly controlled.
ACE inhibitors have side effect of dry cough. While losartan (Angiotensin Receptor Blocker ARB) is devoid of it. ARB s are newer and well tolerated and hence more suitable drug.
In diretics hydrochlorthiazide (HCTZ) is well tolerated drug. And in calcium channel blocker (CCB) Amlodipine is time tested good drug.
Combination of all three ARB, HCTZ and CCB is commercial available. So pill burdencanalso be reduced.
Along wih this you should start low dose statins (lipid lowering agents) to decrease your triglycerides.
So consult your cardiologist and discuss about these options.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, please close the conversation and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 days later)
Hello Dcotor Bhavsar,
The blurred vision and dizziness I had when I had normal blood pressure just on the losartan.
I tried going off the enaparil and on the losartan but the shortness of breath came back should I stick with enapril or anything else that can be used
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (8 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
stick with enalapril.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question.
Yes, you can stick to enalapril. No harm in it. But also start low dose diuretic and statins.
And better to consult ophthalmologist and get done retinal examination. As long term hypertension can damage retinal vessels slowly.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, than please close the conversation and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (13 minutes later)
should I take bothe enapril and losartan or would that be dangerous .
Id there any ace better than enapril?
with my cholesterol I have somewhat high triglycerides more than 200
my ldl is normal and my hdl is quite low, 28 could that go down if I have a statin, what is the best generic statin?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (29 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You will probably need to start a Statin class medication.

Detailed Answer:
Hello there, thanks for your follow up question.

Enalapril is good drug in the ACE inhibitor class. So you can take it. And no need to take both enalapril and losartan together.

Statins are drugs which lower triglycerides and increase your HDL. So it modifies your lipids which are beneficial for your health.

Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are easily available and good for long term use. So you can take either of them. Take it at bed time for better action.

These are prescription medications, so starting them requires a prescription, at the same time odifiying your usage of Losartan and Enalapril should be done under the guidance of your local doctor.

Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, than please close the conversation and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 days later)
Hello bhavsar

I have not started the diuretics yet but I will, With the enalapril at first the it started to work with the shortness of breath gone, but now the shortness of breath is returning I am not sure why. Did I develop a tolerance?
Also do you think I should I continue tadalafil or consider a nitrate (I know it has some contradictions)
And what about niacin for cholesterol reducing is it the same as a Statin or should both be used?

XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
no need to worry much. continue with enalapril.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, thanks for your follow up question.
In my opinion you should continue with enalapril. No need to worry for tolerance. As chances of this is very very rare. Start diuretic too.
And yes, you can take tadalafil. No harm in continuing it. Make sure you are taking it single dose daily.
And niacin and statins are different. No need to start both. Start with statin and get done repeat test after 1 month to see for response.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries than please close the conversation and rate the answer.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
default
Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (19 hours later)
Dr Bhavsar ,

thanks for the info.

Also should nitrates be considered for this?

With enalapril, I had a new type of cough but now it is gone away, I am not sure if it is due to a diminished effect or tolerance, is it normal for a ace cogh to go away?





doctor
Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
it is normal for ACE inhibitors.

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,

I don't favour nitrates use as side effects are very annoying.
Nitrates causes:
1. Postural hypotension
2. Rebound hypertension
3. Headache etc.
So better to avoid nitrate.
Continue with enalapril.
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. Prasad
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Drkaushal85

Pulmonologist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 15002 Questions

premium_optimized

The User accepted the expert's answer

Share on

Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties

159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM Blog Questions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction
What Causes Shortness Of Breath Along With Cough?

Brief Answer: get done coronary angiography. Detailed Answer: Hello dear, thanks for your question on HCM. In my opinion you are having hypertensive left sided heart damage. And this can lead to secondary pulmonary hypertension ( WHO classification type 3). And type 3 pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is the most common type since cardiac diseases are very common. You are having high triglycerides and high blood pressure, both are independent risk factors for coronary artery disease. So my suggestion to you is get done coronary angiography to rule out coronary artery disease as a cause for your breathlessness. And in my opinion you should start low dose diuretic and calcium channel blocker. Both of these drugs will be helpful in systematic as well as pulmonary hypertension. So consult cardiologist and get done coronary angiography and discuss all these. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.