Deep breathing causes cough

[ddm967]

Hello forum members:  I'm concerned because I have noticed that I tend to cough more these days.  When I take in a deep breath thru my mouth--it triggers a dry cough.  If I take in a deep breath thru my nose--then there is no trigger to cough.  It's just breathing via my mouth that does it--mainly on deep breaths.  Sometimes, I'll just cough periodically though through-out the day due to a sense of tickle in my chest/throat area that kinda forces me to cough.  It seems to be worse at night, after eating dinner/snack too.  I can cough quit a bit after dinner and as I'm resting in bed or lying down.  The cough doesn't wake me up at night though and to my knowledge--I don't cough while sleeping.  I also don't cough much during the day but it just depends.  But breathing, especially deep breathing makes me have a dry cough.  

Not coughing up blood or anything, just a dry cough.  It's not a constant cough either, but at the same time--for me it's not normal to cough so much and especially when breathing in/out.  I tend to think the worst in every scenario.  Here again, I'm thinking the "hidden" signs of possible lung cancer.  

I am not a smoker, never have smoked, but in the back of my mind--I know folks who've had lung cancer and never smoked either.  I guess I read online that possible symptoms of lung cancer is:  coughing or a new cough, wheezing, etc., those are the only two symptoms I'm experiencing or have experienced thus far.  I have wheezed before--but not recently.  About 5 months ago when my husband & I got a new mattress, I got up the next couple of mornings after sleeping on it--wheezing sometwhat -almost like a little baby kitten meow.  When I'd breath it sounded like a kitten's meow.  I truly thought my husband was hiding a kitten in the house from me--& he heard the meow sound too and we even started looking around the house for this kitten.  It took me a little while before I realized that it was me making that meow sound.  That really startled me & didn't seem normal.  It went away later that day and it was probably due to sleeping on a new softer mattress with my head positioned flatter on the bed than normal or something to that effect.  

My breathing and coughing problem isn't in my head and I do find myself coughing more these days.  I know it's the time of year for folks to have congestion and bronchial/respiratory type of problems and that could be the case for me--don't know, but I'm also concerned that something else might be going on too.  So that's why I wanted to ask anyone in this forum if they've had a similar experience and if it turned out to be the beginning stages of lung cancer, etc., or something else.  I really don't have a reason to think it's something like cancer but then again--I know it could be as well.  My grandfather (mother's dad) died of lung cancer at age 62 back in 1979.  I'm 43years old & overweight/obese.  Sometimes I think I might cough more due to being overweight and the "fat" around my mid-section affecting my lungs & breathing.  I'm working towards getting RNY Gastric Bypass surgery hopefully in late Feb/March 2011 to help me lose the weight.  I'm actually getting a chest x-ray, barium swallow test, & EKG this Friday (all related to the weight loss surgery procedures) so perhaps the chest x-ray will shed some light on my coughing problem, of what's going on with my lungs.  I really have no reason to think I have lung cancer, but I know it's a silent killer and sneaks up on folks with hardly any noticable symptoms.  I've felt fine up until say the past month or 2...seems like the cough has picked up over the last few weeks as well.  Maybe I do have some type of respiratory bug/infection or something similar, but I'm concerned it could be something more.  

If anyone has had a similar experience with coughing spells (especially upon taking a deep breath) & it was your ONLY symptom & turned out to be first stages of lung cancer--please drop me a line.  I'd love to chat via email with you.  I'm hoping I'm making more out of this cough than I should, but I'm also realistic about the possibilities that the cough could be signaling something more serious regarding my lungs.  I'm a worry-wart too...so that doesn't help much.  Here's to hoping it's just a respiratory infection, cold/cough, or something similar.  :-)  Thanks for your time/concern.  ** ALSO is LUNG CANCER hereditary--does it run in families?  Just curious if anyone knows.  THANKS

ddm

[HELPER9738]

I have found that it could be bronchitis and it's not serious it usually goes away on its own on up to 2 weeks . When your laying down and your chest burns sit up for a bit and drink some milk and have some tums ( burning chest = acid reflux)

[HELPER9738]

Also try cough drops

[Chris01639]

I have exactly the same. I have been to the Doctors and have had a chest x-ray which came back clear 5 weeks ago. I have had a course of antibiotics which did not cure the problem. The Doctor has now said that it is Post Nasal drip and has given me a nasal spray along with an inhaler that you use for asthma. It is now 2 weeks of using them and its still the same. I have had some of these symptoms now for a few years off and on, but over recent months (since August and it is now close on December) it has been bothering me more as it has been more consistent which prompted me to go to the Doctors. Sometimes it feels like dust on the back of my throat, but the symptoms in the post are spot on. I took up swimming to keep fit last year which involves breathing deep breaths through the mouth and exhaling whilst your head is in the water. A couple of lengths of the pool and my throat gets so wheezy I struggle to breath any air in through it. I then had to stop swimming and switched to running which seemed to not trigger the breathing problems as badly as swimming, probably because my body is in an upright position not like swimming. I had to stop running though because of my knee! The asthma pump does nothing at all by the way. I have tried various cough remedies and breathing menthol steam nothing seems to work. The only thing I can link the beginning of the symptoms to is starting work in a factory that makes parts for cars. I was wondering if breathing in the air there  has brought on an allergic reaction. If anyone has a proper answer to this please post it. I would love to know how the original person who posted this has got on.

[Flyingsquirrels]

Sounds like asthma. Are you consistent with use of your inhaler? What kind?  There is more than one corticosteroid inhaler, but you have to consistent and compliant.  If you are using albuterol inhaler only, than consider adding corticosteroid.

[goflies]

We humans need to learn compassion and concern for our fellow man, until we do - we are doomed as a species. I too have the same symptoms and it could be many things including a chest cold, if you have had any kind of lung infection (especially pneumonia) then this can scar the lungs for years casing phlegm, coughing, shortness of breath etc. First thing I would try is doxycycline (antibiotic) and see if this clears up any phlegm or infection, if the cough carries on for more than 4 weeks see your doctor, you would know if its lung cancer my friends, you would have much more symptoms such as massive weight loss etc. best regards, god bless. simon

[Ramoz]

I am facing this problem now, who is the doctor I should consult with if the deep breath through mouth tending to cough doesn't stop in a couple of weeks please help me brother.

[annondd1944]

Ever get checked out for acid reflux?  It would make sense since you have these problems when you lay down or after dinner.

I was told that it's what I have.  I haven't stuck by my diet well enough to see if it actually works or not yet.  The diet *****.

[mayaorana]

hi
i was searching the web for the same problem. my mom, 59 yrs with high triglyceride and hypothyroid is suffreing from vasomotor rhinitis for 3 months and recently with running nose and all, she started coughing and one day I was sitting close to her and heard this kitten meowing! I was shocked and concerned, however couldn't find anyrhig useful so far apart from the watercress soup. please can anyone help me?

[jebuz]

Wow: unbelievable. I came here for the same reason as sincereme12 and cannot believe in the two years this has been up no-one has posted anything at all useful.

What a worthless community, why is this website even still running?

[Flyingsquirrels]

Read my response

[sincereme12]

Hello there,

Did you ever find out what it was? I am currently experiencing the same thing and it is really concerning me.

Thanks!

[kedo72]

google watercress soup or http://happyhomemaker88.com/2007/10/29/lung-cleansing-nutritious-watercress-soup

I hope this is not too simple for you and you disregard it. It actually works