smoker who has a bad cough?

Question

my familly member coughs like every minute cuz he's been smoking for like 40 yrs and he's 60 now...he says he coughs up phlegm sometimes too..is this bad? what disease could he have?

does a cough mean he has a disease?

this "family member" is my dad

Answer 1

COPD...Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Answer 2

This is a subject that I know a lot about. Three people in my family died from smoking related illness. My Mom & Dad,an uncle,& two aunts are all VERY sick from years of smoking. My dad has chronic obstructive pulmanary disease also known as COPD. He smoked for about 50 years and almost died because his oxygen levels hit rock bottom. Thank God he quit smoking & he is doing better. I can't began to tell you how much I HATE smoking!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, If he has been smoking for 40 yrs. He has emphysema at the least. I am so sorry to say that but I can't help but to feel it. Tell him to get to a doctor and STOP SMOKING!!!!! I started smoking when I was 14 and I stopped when I was 20 & I saw what it was doing to everybody I love. I am thankful EVERY DAY!
As far as the phlegm, when I smoked, sometimes I would cough that up & I only smoked for 6 yrs. I hope everything is okay & I hope he can stop!

Answer 3

He could have emphysema, which causes alevoli (air sacs) in the lungs to lose their elasticity, and what will happen is that will have coughing, (emphysema is extremely common in long-time smokers). His alveoli will tear over time and serious complications can occur. He should see a doctor, and he should stop if he can. Persuade him to try using nicotine patches or something that may alleviate his urges to smoke and his addiciton to nicotine. Nowadays they have gum and counseling. Remember even though he is old, he can still change his life and stop smoking. Of course, this is not to say he will be rid of whatever he acquired due to smoking, but prevention of future diseases is good. Also , the coughing up of phlegm can just be because of his age and he may have something like bronchitis, or a pulmonary disease, because of all the tar in his lungs. Smokers often cough because of the body's need to clear up the lungs, and since the build up tar exists (definitely in your family member, because he smoked so long) he will certainly cough and coughing up phlegm would eb logical. By the way, one of your answers lists tongue cancer, don't take that person too seriously, i don't think that's even possible. But remember, buest thing is to end his smoking, there are many programs and groups that he can recieve support from if he needs it, which he might since he's been smoking for forty years.

Answer 4

Maybe nothing serious right now as many smokers cough up phlegm.

Answer 5

Well, I think it's bad, but I don't know what disease he has. I hope he feels better soon and try to quit smoking though!=)

Answer 6

Well smoking can make people caugh.and can cause alots of health problem like heart attack or lung cancer,asthma etc..
but we are surround by others polution that can be not good for our health.but smoking seem to be the first problem.

Answer 7

usually if someone smokes(even that long) they cough.. my grandma does but it isn't that bad.. he has lung cancer probably. he should see a doctor.

Answer 8

may be he is sick and he is making sick to others also,they say it effect more to non smoker,so ask him to stop for sake of his family,and he can have lung cancer type disses also.

Answer 9

smoker's cough, emphysema, cancer, nothing at all.

Answer 10

ummmmmmmmm
emphasema
lung cancer
throat caner
tongue cancer