What Causes Cough And Shortness Of Breath?

Posted on Wed, 8 Jun 2016

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

Wed, 8 Jun 2016 Answered on

Tue, 5 Jul 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I am coughing and having some shortness of breath. Allergies?

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Since how many days you are having these symptoms?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Cough with breathlessness can be due to many causes. Common causes are
1. Asthma (allergy)
2. Bronchitis
3. Heart failure etc.
So I want more information about your symptoms to guide you more.
So please let me know
1. Since how many days you are having these symptoms?
2. Do you have wheezing sound from chest while having breathlessness?
Please reply me answers of above asked questions, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (15 hours later)

off and on for the past two weeks and I noticed it last fall as well I do have asthma but it is so mild, I never ended up using the inhaler before it expired. I do have a dry cough. No wheezing. my mother also had severe astha so I klnow what wheezing sounds like and I don't have it.
I can't always finish a long sentence without running out of air and having to stop. In December, I was singing along to the radio and ran out of air as well, not that anyone wantd to hear me singing. I am noticing that I run out of air with exertion as well.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Have you ever undergone PFT?

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
So you are having coughing and shortness of breath on exertion.
This can be due to asthma.
Since you are diagnosed case of asthma but not on regular treatment, possibility of worsening of asthma is more in your case.
So please let me know
1. Have you ever undergone PFT (pulmonary function test)?
Please reply me answer of above asked question, so that I can guide you better. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.

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

Follow up: Dr. Drkaushal85 (19 hours later)

no I went to my primary care after I answered your questions and he determined that I caught a virus on the plane when we came home from Florida. The timing is about right since the shortness of breath started the wednesday after the Saturday we returned.
Thank you for your help and taking me seriously. I am so embarassed for making this such a big deal when all it is is a little virus and a mild one at that.

Answered by Dr. Drkaushal85 (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Please close the conversation and rate my answer.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for your follow up question on Healthcare Magic.
I can understand your concern.
Hope I have solved your query. If you are not having further queries, then please close the conversation and rate my answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health. Thanks.

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