Suggest Treatment For Persistent Cough And Shortness Of Breath

Posted on Sun, 4 Sep 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 4 Sep 2016 Answered on

Mon, 26 Sep 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I've had a persistant cough for three weeks. Deep in chest. I have some shortness of breat when I exercise. My PCP prescribed five days of antibiotics. Xray showed nothing. After four of the five days of antibiotics, I see no improvement and have started to experience shortness of breath and some light headedness when I exercise. I am in good general shape - healthy

Answered by Dr. Ralph Chambers (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Hello. This could be asthma, cardiac, or gastric reflux

Detailed Answer:
Hello. First off, this could be cardiac and I would get an EKG, echocardiogram, and stress test on you were I your doctor.

I would also give you a spirometry lung function test to look for asthma.

Finally, if the above were all normal, I'd give you a course of Prilosec to see if it's a chemical bronchitis from gastric acid reflux

Please let me know if you need any more information.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad