cough?

[sweetsong]

I'm a 41 yr old female diagnosed with "mild" asthma last week. No other health probs. I keep reading that asthma comes with a DRY cough. Mine is productive.  I'm taking Singulair, (daily) and Proventil (as needed) but I still wheeze on the inhale and I'm coughing up stuff. Is this a normal part of asthma or should I be looking for something else? Thanks so much for your comments.

[National Jewish]

Asthma varies from person to person.  The symptoms of asthma are chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing.  Each person with asthma could have only one of these symptoms or a combination of any of these symptoms, including all four of them.  Some people with asthma will have a dry cough.  However a productive cough is a normal part of asthma for other people, because the mucus glands in their airways make a lot of thick mucus.  Singulair® (montelukast sodium) and inhaled steroids decrease mucus.

To know for sure if your symptoms are due to asthma you will need to have testing done.  Generally testing for asthma starts with a simple breathing test called spirometry.  This test provides detailed information about how your lungs are working.  It will show if there is obstruction in your airways.  To really test for asthma it is best to repeat this test after using a rescue inhaler, like the bronchodilator that you are using, Proventil® Inhalation Aerosol (albuterol sulfate).  This measures how much the bronchodilator helps your lungs by reversing the problem.  When there is a 20% increase the test is positive for asthma.  An allergist or a pulmonologist would be the type of specialist to arrange for this testing and to help you get the best treatment.

[jg2001]

Hi, I'm new on this board. I'm 41/F - asthma, emphysema (50% decreased capacity), irregular rapid heart beat, hypothyroid, Hashimoto's syndrome, surgically removed oral cancer, uterus cancer (keeping an eye on the oral still).  Just a brief history. Also been a smoker since I was 8 (33 years, yes, i still smoke).  Clean and sober 12 years.

I have a very productive cough...sometimes to the point where I can't breath. Sometimes I have to manually remove the production from my mouth because I can't spit it out (sorry, the only way to describe it).  I'm on asthmacort, atrovent and albuteral.  I, myself, see no difference using the ashtmacort or atrovent.  I find the albuteral most helpful (the "fast acting" relief)whenever the wheezing or tightness set in.  I find it most difficult when laying flat.  The wheezing is sooo annoying when trying to sleep.

My cough is related to asthma and continuous smoking.

[Jane1]

HI Jg

I only started smoking when I was 25 - 9 years ago - I was diagnosed asthmatic at 19 years - obviously the asthma worsened.
If you are dry and clean so many years, at 41 you are still so young to be suffering but I would hope you can try to knock the cigs on the head, I know it's hard, my partner started smoking when he was 4 ( must be a record) he in fact has not gone through any chest problems, he doesn't get infections, takes no medication, I on the otherhand have had years of asthma, bronchitis, sarcoidosis - been prescribed steriods etc etc, it is my belief that some people can smoke ( Doctors and Nurses don't hiss!) but others like yourself and me become addicted like all smokers but unfortunately suffer the worst consequences - I will make this big prediction here - if you kick the smoking habit, your emphasema will improve - not at first - you will suffer set backs, but you will regain a reasonable level of breathing - I have been battling to give up for years even the fear of an probable cancer diagnosis made me smoke more - I was a martyr to the tabacco industry, don't become one.

J.

[jg2001]

I know exactly what you mean about stopping.  I tried "cold turkey", the patch, the pill and the patch, accupuncture and hypnosis and am STILL paying $5.25 a pack!  I went to my regular dr. yesterday to check my mouth (again) and he ended up doubling my steriod (Qvar) inhaler and is sending me back to the pulmonary dr.  I was diagnosed with emphysema at 34 and asthma at the same time.  They also told me I had a growth on my vocal cords and a lump in my breast.  To say the least, THAT was a miserable dr's appointment!  I was diagnosed with HCV in Nov, 2003 while trying to increase my life insurance, but that, thank God, was cleared by my body and no treatments are necessary!  My husband is 53 and has been smoking as long as I have and he is healthy as a horse!  Go figure.

Jamie

[Purified Air]

I used to always clear my throat and cough...since having an air purifier in my home that covers the whole house; I've totally stopped that and found it to help all my children even in the midst of this WI winter - we've had no colds or flu or other respiratory ills.  Here's some obvious signs in your own home that can indicate a need simply for air purification.
COMMON TRAITS OF INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
Affected Household Members initials: ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
Dust on furniture / Visible in air
House odors
Allergies
Asthma
Sinus problems
Headaches
Sleeplessness / Light sleeper
Snoring
Sore throats / Colds / Flu
Itchy/ Watery eyes
Coughing / Throat clearing
Lack of Concentration
Depression / Irritability
Fatigue / Naps
Mold / Mildew in basement & bathrooms
Pet dander and odors
Smoking
Wood / Coal heater
Static Electricity

As you fill this in and realize how much is affected by your indoor air; maybe you should try an ionizing/ozone air purifier like I have.  It's removed all respiratory ills in our family with 8 children 19 down to two.

[Jane1]

Sorry Purified Air, but this is coming across to me as an advertisement.  Cut and Paste seemed like a handy alternative here and on other post. I live in a relatively unpolluted area,
Standing outside or walking, gardening, jogging, etc and breathing in what is left of our clean environment seems like just as good a solution to me and it's free.  Most of the posters here suffer longtern respiratory illness which can't be cured from something as simple as an Air Purifier, if only it could be that simple!!

J

With respect