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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
dry rattling cough-
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis.
dry rattling cough-
by julie2, May 13, 2003 12:00AM
i'm an 18 year old female, and i'm really at my wits end with this problem, so i was wondering if anyone could help me out.
I've had asthma since i was about 7, and as far as i can remember, it was never very severe. I had ventolin, which i seldom, if ever, used.
Then, all of a sudden this past august, my asthma became much worse. I cough every day, and i'm taking 250 advair a day, plus ranitidine, as i was told that i have acid reflux, which can trigger coughing.
Unfortuneatly, this doesn't seme to be helping much, and i've been on this medication for about six months. My doctor suggested using singulaire, but i'm rather reluctant, since i am on so much medication ( i often have to use my ventolin).
I've had all the tests i can think of. Lung x-rays, sinus x-rays, a swallowing test which determined i have the reflux thing, allergy test which sad i was not allergic, and a methocoline challenge, during which i could only tolerate two doses of the trigger.
So, with all that said, here's my problem. I experience this cough almost every single day, which is like a dry rattle coming from my upper chest. It's non productive, and seems like it could go on and on, unless i force it to stop. It used to be every morning that i would experience this, but it seemed to stop for a few days, and has since moved into the day time.
What is it? When my doctor listens to my lungs, she says she doens't hear anything, but this cough is so persistent, and i'm really starting to wonder if it's indeed not connected to my asthma at all. any help would be very much appreciated!
I've had asthma since i was about 7, and as far as i can remember, it was never very severe. I had ventolin, which i seldom, if ever, used.
Then, all of a sudden this past august, my asthma became much worse. I cough every day, and i'm taking 250 advair a day, plus ranitidine, as i was told that i have acid reflux, which can trigger coughing.
Unfortuneatly, this doesn't seme to be helping much, and i've been on this medication for about six months. My doctor suggested using singulaire, but i'm rather reluctant, since i am on so much medication ( i often have to use my ventolin).
I've had all the tests i can think of. Lung x-rays, sinus x-rays, a swallowing test which determined i have the reflux thing, allergy test which sad i was not allergic, and a methocoline challenge, during which i could only tolerate two doses of the trigger.
So, with all that said, here's my problem. I experience this cough almost every single day, which is like a dry rattle coming from my upper chest. It's non productive, and seems like it could go on and on, unless i force it to stop. It used to be every morning that i would experience this, but it seemed to stop for a few days, and has since moved into the day time.
What is it? When my doctor listens to my lungs, she says she doens't hear anything, but this cough is so persistent, and i'm really starting to wonder if it's indeed not connected to my asthma at all. any help would be very much appreciated!
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, May 20, 2003 12:00AM
, May 20, 2003 12:00AM
A lung problem such as asthma could cause a cough. A dry rattling cough can be the only symptom of asthma. Also asthma can change at any time for the better or for the worse. Advair™ Diskus® (fluticasone/salmeterol) is a very good medicine to control asthma. This may not be enough to control your asthma, since you often have to use your Ventolin® (albuterol). Adding Singulair® (montelukast sodium) as your doctor is suggesting may be what you need to control your asthma. However it is also possible that there is some other problem causing your dry rattling cough.
Other possible causes are allergy, infection, irritation or all of these. Many viral infections, most notably the flu, can cause irritation of the airways of the lungs. This irritation can cause a cough that lasts a couple of weeks. Sometimes it may linger for 3 to 6 months. Coughing could be due to a heart problem. Coughing can be a side effect of a group of medicines used to treat high blood pressure called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. In a person who has a normal chest x-ray and who doesn’t smoke the other common causes of cough are postnasal drip and acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is also possible for the GERD to trigger your asthma.
GERD is the back flow of stomach contents, including digestive juices, into the esophagus or food tube. This is most commonly called heartburn. GERD can cause the following symptoms:
· Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth;
· Pain occurring in the middle of the chest;
· Coughing and/or choking while lying down; and
· Increased trouble breathing while asleep.
GERD can often be controlled by avoiding food and drink 2 to 3 hours before bedtime, elevating the head of the bed 6 to 8 inches, and/or taking medicines.
If your acid reflux symptoms are continuing with the ranitidine, be sure to share this information with your doctor. You may need a change in your treatment to get your symptoms under complete control. A gastroenterologist is the type of specialist to let you know the best treatment for your acid reflux. Please read our Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/reflux.html for more information.
Other possible causes are allergy, infection, irritation or all of these. Many viral infections, most notably the flu, can cause irritation of the airways of the lungs. This irritation can cause a cough that lasts a couple of weeks. Sometimes it may linger for 3 to 6 months. Coughing could be due to a heart problem. Coughing can be a side effect of a group of medicines used to treat high blood pressure called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. In a person who has a normal chest x-ray and who doesn’t smoke the other common causes of cough are postnasal drip and acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It is also possible for the GERD to trigger your asthma.
GERD is the back flow of stomach contents, including digestive juices, into the esophagus or food tube. This is most commonly called heartburn. GERD can cause the following symptoms:
· Heartburn or a sour taste in the mouth;
· Pain occurring in the middle of the chest;
· Coughing and/or choking while lying down; and
· Increased trouble breathing while asleep.
GERD can often be controlled by avoiding food and drink 2 to 3 hours before bedtime, elevating the head of the bed 6 to 8 inches, and/or taking medicines.
If your acid reflux symptoms are continuing with the ranitidine, be sure to share this information with your doctor. You may need a change in your treatment to get your symptoms under complete control. A gastroenterologist is the type of specialist to let you know the best treatment for your acid reflux. Please read our Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/reflux.html for more information.
After all the asthma medication I am on - Singulair, Nasonex, Advair 500, Zyrtec, a decongestant...I find it hard to belive this cough is coming from asthma.
I am curious if the Advair is actually CAUSING the cough.
Any progress/treatment shared is greatly appreciated. Can leave it on this forum or email me at ***@****.
Thanks.