Cough and Congestion Question
I received the following question from one of our viewers ... “Hello Amy a member of my family has been dealing with a really bad cough and congestion problems. He had lung cancer and hasn’t had anymore come back. It really flares up during dinner and then doesn’t let up until he throws up. But the thing is once the episode is over it may not happen for a week or more. This person has gone to a family doctor and the doc said that there is nothing wrong with the person. Could you ask a specialist who deals with respiratory problems or congestive problems?“
I called Ohio State University and Dr. Clay Marsh the Director of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine and here is his response to your question ... “The problem of cough and congestion is a common problem. While I can’t offer a specific diagnosis without seeing your family member, I will be delighted to provide the following advice.
The fact that your family member had lung cancer would require a review of x rays and/or CAT scans of his/her lungs to make sure that the lung cancer has not returned, which could cause cough. The fact that the cough is related to eating could suggest that refluxing/regurgitation of food or acid into the lungs or upper airway may be happening and could cause the cough. In this case, we would suggest having a swallow test to make sure that food is not gaining access to the lung and to determine if gastric materials gain access to the upper part of the swallowing tube or airway. This is particularly important because the resolution happens with throwing up.
Other causes of intermittent coughing are acid reflux from the stomach, asthma, or sinus drainage. Less common causes include heart problems, medicines, and blood clots in the lung, among a few.
It is probably best that you see a physician who can guide you through the evaluation process.“
I hope this helps!
