Suggest Treatment For Tightness In Chest, Congestion And Periodic Wheezing

Posted on Sun, 14 Jun 2015

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

Sun, 14 Jun 2015 Answered on

Sat, 11 Jul 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : My husband has had symptoms for about 6 months. They began as tightness in the chest and congestion. He has had 2 boughts of antibiotics and the symptoms subsided a little bit, but never completely disappeared. It has been about 2 to 3 months later and it seems to be getting worse. Right now he seems to be more tired, congestion, a little mucus, and tightness in his chest and periodic wheezing. What do you think it could possibly be?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
COPD is the most probable reason.

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for the query.

Your husband is having typical symptoms of COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). This condition is strongly associated with smoking. If he smokes for many years, this diagnosis is very probable.
Due to chronic lungs irritating caused by cigarettes smoke, he gets a kind of chronic inflammation. This results with mucus secretion, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath.
As he smokes, lungs cancer is a condition which has to be ruled out as well. Both conditions can coexist.

He definitely should consult pulmunologist. Chest CT to rule out cancer and blow test to confirm COPD should be done. He should quit smoking completely. Decreasing the amount of cigarettes a day does not help at all.

Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar