worried about my dad

[mhardin07]

my father has smoked for 40 years. He lost his father to emphyzema, as well as his brother, his mother to lung cancer, and his sister to a smoking related stroke. He has finally quit smoking using a new med. He is doing great so far, its been 29 days since his last cigarette. He has VERY heavy coughing for 2 weeks or so. So bad, he would have to pull over when driving because he couldn't breathe. He has calmed down a lot, but still coughing, thinks its just getting 40 years of gunge out. But, he is having these spells where he can't breathe. He can feel it coming on. He leans up against something and has to gasp for a few seconds until he catches his breath. He has never fainted or anything. He just goes on after that, but it is scary. I am worried about him. What could this be?

[National Jewish]

The most likely cause for difficulty breathing and coughing in someone who has smoked for 40 years is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  There are medications to help these problems.  I would suggest seeing a physician to perform a lung function test to see what is going on and getting some medications.