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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Productive Cough With Itchy Throat. Given Diphenhydramine. What Does The Chest X-ray Say?

history: productive cough with itchiness of throat . seen by a doctor and was given diphenhydramine 4x a day for 1 week, antibiotic 1 x day for 1 week and pecof ( cough remedy)3x a day for 1 week. completed the medications but still the coughing persists and now there is already occasional dyspnea so decided to have chest x-ray PA and the result was hyperaerated both lungs, atherosclerosis of thoracic aorta . whats the implication of this and what are the possible lab work up after having this impression? i hope to hear feedback from you regarding this concerns. thank you!
Mon, 10 Sep 2012
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
Dear friend, welcome to HCM!

The Xray is not worrisome.

It shows hyperareation / inflation which may mean emphysema, common in elderly and smokers.

But it is a long term condition and nothing to do with the current respiratory infection.



Atherosclerosis of the aorta in the chest part is also common at advancing age and is due to cholesterol deposition causing hardening of the aorta ( major blood supply vessel).



If you are old enough or smoke, it is explained by these conditions.

You could see your physician and get evaluated for dyspnoea, get lipids (cholesterol fats) checked, an EKG, 2D echo of the heart, CBC, routine biochemistry and PFTs(pulmonary function tests) to look for any effects of these on other systems.



Current respiratory infection must have aggravated the breathlessness.

Take care and please keep me informed of your progress.

Good Luck!

I hope to have answered your query satisfactorily.

Thank you!

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Productive Cough With Itchy Throat. Given Diphenhydramine. What Does The Chest X-ray Say?

Dear friend, welcome to HCM! The Xray is not worrisome. It shows hyperareation / inflation which may mean emphysema, common in elderly and smokers. But it is a long term condition and nothing to do with the current respiratory infection. Atherosclerosis of the aorta in the chest part is also common at advancing age and is due to cholesterol deposition causing hardening of the aorta ( major blood supply vessel). If you are old enough or smoke, it is explained by these conditions. You could see your physician and get evaluated for dyspnoea, get lipids (cholesterol fats) checked, an EKG, 2D echo of the heart, CBC, routine biochemistry and PFTs(pulmonary function tests) to look for any effects of these on other systems. Current respiratory infection must have aggravated the breathlessness. Take care and please keep me informed of your progress. Good Luck! I hope to have answered your query satisfactorily. Thank you!