Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tuesday, December 09, 2008 RFLYNN78 asks

Q: Dry, hacking, bronchial cough, shortness of breath, sneezing, and runny nose. What Do I have?

I have been throulgh all summer up til now with bronchial, dry, hacking cough, with shortness of breath, gasping for air in hot humid weather even in the library, and I have been sneezing with a runny nose and a postnasal drip and now it is getting cold andstarting to turn winter. I am about to get worst with brealthing difficulty in the next coming months.

 

Rose M. Flynn

 

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Answers (5)
JB, Editor
12/19/08 3:05pm

Hello Rose! Thank you for your question.

 

You need to see your doctor to get a diagnosis.

 

Your symptoms may describe several different conditions. For example, shortness of breath and unproductive cough are typical symptoms of asthma.

 

The sneezing and runny nose are typical symptoms of allergies. However, these are also symptoms of idiopathing rhinits (which simply means that your nose runs for no reason) and of the common cold.

 

You could have asthma triggered by allergies. In the summer, the major allergy triggers are pollens. In the fall and winter, the major triggers are ragweed pollen and indoor dust and molds. Allergies and asthma are chronic, and you will need treatment, possibly for the rest of your life. Or you could have a respiratory infection, which, if acute, may only need treatment to clear up the problem. If it's chronic, then you will, again, need long-term treatment.

 

Either way, you will need to see your doctor to get a diagnosis and to discuss further treatment.

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11/28/09 4:18pm

It may well be worth looking up "postnasal drip".  At least now I know it is not asthma.  My coughing and tight chest started two years ago, during my usual evening walks!  I tend to suffer like this from autumn into mid-winter, walking outdoors when cold & damp, and then same cough & tight chest when indoors with central heating, on trains that are too warm, etc. The symptoms seem to fade around January.

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6/11/09 6:34pm

IT REALLY SOUNDS LIKE YOUI COULD HAVE A LUNG PROBLEM. DO YOU SMOKE??IF YOU DO  QUIT NOW BECAUSE ALL IT DOES IS AGGRAVATE YOUR PROBLEMS BELEIVE ME. RIGHT NOW I HAVE EMPHSEMA AND ON OXYGEN FROM SMOKING AND I DARE SAY I WATCH BOTH OF MY PARENTS DIE FROM IT AND ITS A VERY LONG PORGRESSIVE DISEASE. I WOULD ALSO, MAKE AN APPT IMMEDIATELY WITH YOUR FAMILY DOCTOR AND THAN A PULMONOLIGISTS AS I HAD TO DO. I HOPE AND PRAY THINGS WILL GET MUCH BETTER FRO YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO EMAIL ME PLEASE DO SO AT tXLDY7777@YAHOO.COM AND MY NAME IS SANDRA.

SINCERELY,

SANDEE

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6/11/09 6:46pm

HI,

ITS ME SANDRA AGAIN,

ITS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT YOU COULD HAVE ASTHMA BUT CHECK WITH YOUR FAMILY DR FIRST AND IF HE SAYS NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU GO AND SEE THE PULMOOLOGISTS ABOUT YOUR BRATHING PROBELMS AND MAYBE TO A ENT DR FOR THE SNEEZING ..ALLERGIES SYMTONS. OK??

GOD BLESS YOU:))

SANDEE

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6/23/10 4:51pm

Do you have or do you think you could be developing an allergy to cats? Cold weather the cat is inside more. Anyway all summer with a cough and you haven't been to your GP?!! WTF

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10/ 2/10 9:28pm

I have a dry, hacking cough with shortness of breath, sneezing and a postnasal drip.  Please advise

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By RFLYNN78— Last Modified: 07/31/12, First Published: 12/09/08