How to treat chronic allergy with frequent cough and cold?
Hi doctor,
I am suffering from a chronic allergy. I have a frequent cough and cold. I am using Montelukast sodium and Levocetirizine. It prevents the symptoms. But when I stop taking it, the cough gets increased.
25 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Is bronchoscopy needed for fever and cough problems?
Hello doctor,
One week before, I had some fever and cough problem for which the doctor suggested a chest x-ray, sputum culture, and sensitivity test and give some antibiotic courses for five days. Currently, I am fine, with no fever or chest pain. Only some coughing is there. On examining lung x-ray, the doctor suggested for computed tomography (CT) chest plain and contrast. Below are the finding of the CT scan of the chest. Same I am uploading for details. Now the doctor is suggesting for bronchoscopy for further diagnosis. I am not sure whether to go for it as it is an expensive process. A lot of diagnoses are already done (x-ray, tests, CT scan, etc). But I do not much faith in hospital or doctor, as I feel, he is making money from all tests and I am feeling fine, with no problem, as the problem for which I had gone to the doctor is cured. I want your advice, whether bronchoscopy is required or not? Or refer me some alternative treatment or medicine or precaution.
22 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Can fumes from heating cement cause nausea and heartburn?
Hi doctor,
I am a 51-year-old female and a trained sculptor and welder. I create cement forms and then weld steel around them to achieve the perfect shape in steel. The cement form gets very hot under the flame of the oxy-acetylene torch and gives off a bad odor. After a long day of sculpting, I feel nauseous and experience heartburn. I am wondering if the fumes from heating the cement are harmful to my health. If so, how harmful can breathing in these fumes cause cancer, emphysema, etc?
Please help.
20 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
What causes brown specks after freediving?
Hi doctor,
Before two weeks, I got lung barotrauma from free-diving. I dived to a depth of 253 feet. Upon surfacing, I was fine without chest congestion, pain, or urge to cough. After 12 hours, I started to have phlegm with brown blood. I thought it was old blood. After a morning, I got more phlegm with brown specks. It has been two weeks now and I am producing phlegm with brown specks. It concerns me a lot. I had some small squeezes in the past with some chest congestion and an urge to cough.
After that, I will produce some phlegm with a small amount of red blood. I consulted a doctor and the doctor told me that traces of blood can result due to barotrauma squeeze happening at various levels from the paranasal sinus to the airways. The alveoli and terminal bronchi are fairly collapsible while the trachea and large bronchi have a large cartilaginous structure and they are not susceptible to collapse. The capillary bed under the epithelial lining is very vulnerable to a dramatic drop in the level of barometric pressure during freediving. So traces of blood can result from it.
If there are traces of blood due to airway squeeze, then it likely involves capillaries of the respiratory epithelial lining. But it gets healed in a few days. Damage to cartilage rings causes some different levels of damage. I consulted another doctor and he told me that injuries to the cartilage rings are painful and injury to the alveoli can cause some symptoms. So he suspects that damage is caused due to capillaries of the epithelial lining. What is your opinion? Is this normal to have old blood streaks for two weeks from this type of damage? Please mention the severity of the injury. Will it get healed soon? What is the possible reason to have delayed blood coming out for two weeks of having dive?
19 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
What causes pulmonary fibrosis in an elderly?
Hello doctor,
I am a 74-year-old male with a weight of 142 pounds and a height of 5 feet 10 inches. I take no medications except Ativan. I take vitamins. I am a non-smoker, worked in the auto body shop for two years painting cars, quit grain farming at the age of 44, minimal exposure to asbestos. I have been suffering from panic disorder for 56 years. Last winter I got a whiff of hot coals while cleaning my fireplace.
Radiation exposure includes two thallium tests, two barium enemas, and one angiogram. Normal chest X-rays until last spring. Last spring's X-ray showed scattered fibrosis. Normal pulmonary function test - FVC liters - Ref 4.11, Pre meas 4.18, Pre % Ref 102; FEV1 liters- Ref 2.70 , Pre meas 3.10, Pre % Ref 115; FEV1/FVC % Ref 68, Pre meas 74; FEF 25 % to75 % L/sec Ref 2.40, Pre meas 2.35, Pre % Ref 98; FEV3 Liters Pre meas 3.67; PEF L/sec Ref 7.87, Pre meas 10.63, Pre % Ref 135 . What could be causing the fibrosis?
18 Apr 2024 - 1 min read
Allergy Specialist
Pulmonology (Asthma Doctors)