Aa
Shortness of Breath
Hello,
I am a 52 yo male, 5'11" 195lbs. I have a twenty five pack year smoking history. I quit smoking over 10 years ago. At the time I had PFT test done becuase I was experiencing anxiety and vague shortness of breath (in the morning waking up). The PFT results were normal and above predicted at that time. However in the past 6 months or so I have developed a mild cough in the early morning. 2 weeks ago during the day I felt short of breath and and had a deep cough for 2 days (no fever or cold symtoms). Also I was more winded that usual during my workouts. 2 weeks later I still have a mild cough during the day and I woke up one morning feeling vaguely short of breath and couldn't get back to sleep without feeling like I was suffocating. I went to my long time doctor and had chest x-rays, ekg and 02 sat. He said everything was normal 02 sat 99%, chest clear and I "was pushing good air" and my heart sounded good, resting pulse of 70bpm, however my BP was 150/95. I am scheduled for PFT testing next week. He did perscribe me an inhaler which seemed to work and I didn't have the sleeping (sob) problem the next or subsequent nights. I decided to do some heavier cardio tonight which consisted of 25 minutes treadmill continuous .5 mile walk @ 4mi/hr /1 mile run @6mi/hr /.5 mile walk @4mi/hr). My pulse rate at the end of the first walk was 120bpm and throughout the run (10 min mile) 165bpm and 130 bpm for the second walk (it went to 130 approx 1 min after the run). I then followed this up with a 20 minute eliptical at approx 85% of my max effort (setting of 8 with 70rpm). My heart rate was apprx 153 bpm throughout. During the walks I had no symtoms of breathlessness. I was breathing moderately for the eliptical and approx 2 minutes after I stopped I was at normal respiration. Also I bought a blood pressure monitor and early in the day it consistantly read 130/85 with a resting pulse of 65bpm . Do you think there is a chance I have emphysema or copd?
I am a 52 yo male, 5'11" 195lbs. I have a twenty five pack year smoking history. I quit smoking over 10 years ago. At the time I had PFT test done becuase I was experiencing anxiety and vague shortness of breath (in the morning waking up). The PFT results were normal and above predicted at that time. However in the past 6 months or so I have developed a mild cough in the early morning. 2 weeks ago during the day I felt short of breath and and had a deep cough for 2 days (no fever or cold symtoms). Also I was more winded that usual during my workouts. 2 weeks later I still have a mild cough during the day and I woke up one morning feeling vaguely short of breath and couldn't get back to sleep without feeling like I was suffocating. I went to my long time doctor and had chest x-rays, ekg and 02 sat. He said everything was normal 02 sat 99%, chest clear and I "was pushing good air" and my heart sounded good, resting pulse of 70bpm, however my BP was 150/95. I am scheduled for PFT testing next week. He did perscribe me an inhaler which seemed to work and I didn't have the sleeping (sob) problem the next or subsequent nights. I decided to do some heavier cardio tonight which consisted of 25 minutes treadmill continuous .5 mile walk @ 4mi/hr /1 mile run @6mi/hr /.5 mile walk @4mi/hr). My pulse rate at the end of the first walk was 120bpm and throughout the run (10 min mile) 165bpm and 130 bpm for the second walk (it went to 130 approx 1 min after the run). I then followed this up with a 20 minute eliptical at approx 85% of my max effort (setting of 8 with 70rpm). My heart rate was apprx 153 bpm throughout. During the walks I had no symtoms of breathlessness. I was breathing moderately for the eliptical and approx 2 minutes after I stopped I was at normal respiration. Also I bought a blood pressure monitor and early in the day it consistantly read 130/85 with a resting pulse of 65bpm . Do you think there is a chance I have emphysema or copd?
A related discussion, lung infection was started.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
No, I don’t believe there is a chance that you have emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD); since you quit smoking over 10 years ago and are able to exercise at a relatively high level. If your heart rate is out of proportion to your respiration, it could be due to the fact that you are not as well-conditioned as you have assumed.
You should continue to monitor your blood pressure but I would recommend that you and your doctor look to your cough, and the probable cause of it. The causes of most coughs are benign, for example postnasal drip, asthma or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but cough can also be a warning sign of more serious disease. You just want to be on the safe side of things.
Good luck.
You should continue to monitor your blood pressure but I would recommend that you and your doctor look to your cough, and the probable cause of it. The causes of most coughs are benign, for example postnasal drip, asthma or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but cough can also be a warning sign of more serious disease. You just want to be on the safe side of things.
Good luck.
Last post I promise!
Got the pico 6. The best measurement was the following:
FEV1: 88.4% Predicted (this compares very closely with the Microtek 100)
FEV6: 99.1% Predicted
FEV1/FEV6 71.6 (92.4% Predicted)
I could not exhale any longer than 6 seconds so I assume that the FVC values are going to be very close to what the FEV6 value is. So I guess I'm right on the edge using the GOLD standard. If you use the LLN then I have a few % leeway. Just the same I'm a bit worried as there isn't much margin.
Got the pico 6. The best measurement was the following:
FEV1: 88.4% Predicted (this compares very closely with the Microtek 100)
FEV6: 99.1% Predicted
FEV1/FEV6 71.6 (92.4% Predicted)
I could not exhale any longer than 6 seconds so I assume that the FVC values are going to be very close to what the FEV6 value is. So I guess I'm right on the edge using the GOLD standard. If you use the LLN then I have a few % leeway. Just the same I'm a bit worried as there isn't much margin.
More info:
Obtained a microlife 100 meter. I've got the Pico-6 on order. I'm not sure how accurate they are but so far for the microlife100:
FEV1 values ranged from 88.4 - 90.9 % predicted.
Obtained a microlife 100 meter. I've got the Pico-6 on order. I'm not sure how accurate they are but so far for the microlife100:
FEV1 values ranged from 88.4 - 90.9 % predicted.
Some additional information regarding last post.
My BP seems to fluctuate significantly. This morning it was 160/95 with a heart rate of 60 at rest (respiration is approx 12-15 breaths per minute) . However the values for heart rate during strenuous exercise described in the preceeding post are all about 10% above normal for the same level of work (same eliptical settings) from before all the previous symptoms started. Not sure what the bp doing, however I don't feel breathless whatsoever. It seems like my heart rate is out of proportion to my respiration.
I am currently taking abueturol but even after 18-20 hours without it I still get the same heart rate increases over baseline (with strenous exercise). Basline at rest heart rates are about normal. The original shortness of breath feeling does not return after the 18 hour medication interruption. I still have a slight cough but it seems to incease after I use the inhaler.
I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't exercise at this point?
My BP seems to fluctuate significantly. This morning it was 160/95 with a heart rate of 60 at rest (respiration is approx 12-15 breaths per minute) . However the values for heart rate during strenuous exercise described in the preceeding post are all about 10% above normal for the same level of work (same eliptical settings) from before all the previous symptoms started. Not sure what the bp doing, however I don't feel breathless whatsoever. It seems like my heart rate is out of proportion to my respiration.
I am currently taking abueturol but even after 18-20 hours without it I still get the same heart rate increases over baseline (with strenous exercise). Basline at rest heart rates are about normal. The original shortness of breath feeling does not return after the 18 hour medication interruption. I still have a slight cough but it seems to incease after I use the inhaler.
I'm thinking maybe I shouldn't exercise at this point?
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