Asthma?

[Dilbertian]

All my adult life I have been prone to coughing. I don't smoke, never have.

When I lived in London or any other large city I had a constant slight chesty cough, worse in the mornings and on exertion. If I had a cold it always 'went to my chest', I would get totally congested and it would linger for months.

When I lived in smaller, cleaner towns, my cough would disappear. It would only trouble me if I caught a cold. Then, as before, it my cough would get worse and linger for months.

Fitness doesn't seem to make a difference. In fact, in my 20s I went to the GP about the fact that this lean, fit, active woman could not run up a flight of stairs without doubling over coughing at the top. He was uninterested. (That lean, fit, active young woman is long gone!)

So I'm now over a cold and, as usual, coughing like a smoker for a few weeks. Several people, who I did not know had well-controlled asthma, have asked me whether I have asthma - because they have lingering coughs after colds, especially if they do not use their inhalers.

Is this likely? Is it worth going to the doctor about it? Would it make my life better?

[Dilbertian]

Natasha,

I do seem to have terrible post nasal drip and sinus problems which I think must all be related in a circular way!

Asthma UK helpline suggested this as a possibility, too. I thought that post-nasal drip causes a cough because of the catarrh irritating the back of the throat, but she said that that's only one type of post-nasal drip. If the nose part of the airway is inflamed, then the lung part of the airways can also be irritated and inflamed without cattarh physically irritating it. Nasal steroids are needed to sort out the p-n drip, after which the lungs should recover, too.

[NatashaGurdin]

Thanks Dilbertian

The sinus and post nasal drip and blocked nose problems have slowly got worse so I think I will have to see what treatment the asthma nurse thinks might help. I do use nasal sprays but they don't seem to help as much as I'd hoped.

[cptartapp]

You need spirometry testing (with reversibility) and follow up with a practitioner qualified to interpret the results. Look up GOLD guidelines.

[Dilbertian]

Thanks. This is really bewildering.

[Dilbertian]

I'm really sorry but If you phone Asthma UK you'll find that you've been given incorrect treatment. And the asthma nurse will say so too.

You were absolutely right,NeurotrashWarrior. Such eye-rolling from the asthma nurse! I've now got a Pulmicort Turboinhaler and a 6-week review (Corona permitting!)

Ironically, I feel much better than when I saw theGP and the cough has diminished massively without any treatment.

[dontdisturbmenow]

My DD went three times to the GP with a cough that would last many months after a cold. She got x-rays and each time was told all was clear and to just wait. Then she moved to another part of the country, got and new GP and after yet another crisis following another cold, she was told she likely had asthma after a 5 MNS consultation. She was referred to the asthma nurse, had the tests, and asthma was confirmed. She was put on treatment, it took months to make a difference, but she is now much better.

Everything you wrote reminded me of her.