Hi. I have a cough on and off every year. I do smoke around 20 cigarettes a day but latley ive reduced the numbers as my phlegm tastes like chlorine. Ive also been sufferening shortages of breath and have pains in my upper back sometimes. Why is this?
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your concern. Since you are smoker, possibility of bronchitis is more in your case. Bronchitis can cause similar symptoms like cough, chest pain, back pain, expectoration, difficulty in breathing etc. So better to consult pulmonologist and get done 1. Clinical examination of respiratory system 2. Chest x-ray 3. PUT (Pulmonary Function Test). Chest x-ray is needed to rule other lung diseases. PFT is must for the diagnosis of bronchitis. It will also tell you about severity of the disease and treatment of bronchitis is based on severity only. Smoking cessation should be done first. Inhaled bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) are mainstay of treatment. So possibility of chronic bronchitis is more in your case. Hope I have solved your query. Wish you good health. Thanks.