My dad is always coughing. Please help?

Question

My dad has had chronic coughing for about 3 years. Occasionally he doesn't cough for a few days, but some days he coughs so much he wakes up at night. He doesn't cough up blood, just regular coughing, but sometimes it's really strong. Doctors aren't sure about why he coughs so much because he's in near perfect health. Some say it's because of allergies, but my dad took allergy medicine and it hasn't improved his condition. This one doctor said it's an aftermath from a cold that wasn't properly cured, however another doctor said that's impossible. I'm worried for my dad and it pains me to see him cough so much, especially in public when he has to suppress his cough because i know it hurts him to do so....

If anyone has had any similar problems or know any good medicine please tell me. And if you have any insight on his condition also please inform me that would be great!

no he doesn't smoke. or drink

Answer 1

Well, you aren't mentioning how old he is, not that it matters though.
I quit smoking 7 months ago, and started back on my treadmill so I wouldn't gain weight.
Everything was fine until 1 1/2 months ago when I developed this "cough" and became so out of breath. after about 5 months, I would be on the treadmill for 45 minutes and start getting chest pains along with coughing and shortness of breath.
My time "walking" lessened to not at all but the coughing and other symptoms stayed.
After seeing my PCP and sending me to a cardiac Dr., it seems I have Tachycardia.
I cough for no reason. Usually when you quit smoking, the first month you cough A LOT to purge your lungs of all the stuff that was in it. After 5 months you shouldn't be coughing the way I was.
I'm not saying that's what your dad has. Me walking on a treadmill had nothing to do with it, it was always there, the fact that I got my heart rate up so fast brought it to the front faster.
If you do a Google on Tachycardia, that is one of the symptoms you are mentioning.
Also, Tachycardia is not always caused by your heart, mine isn't. My heart is fine, so are my lungs; however they are now thinking it is coming from my lungs, ie: pulmonary embolism (blod clot) which can be removed.
My suggestion is for your dad to see a cardiologist for a heart echo to rule that out, and hopfully that Dr. will put him on a heart holter to monitor his heart for 24 hours along with an ECG.
Sometimes it upsets me when certain signs are there and Drs. just blow them away without checking into other possibilities. It could be nothing as simple as an allergy, but it could be something. Not being funny here but, have him take his pulse periodically, espicially if he is doing something. It should be around 60-70 beats per minutes. If it spikes over 100 after activity, there should be a concern. Take it for 15 seconds x's 4.
I figure it's better safe now than not at all.

Answer 2

The coughing could be caused by a lot of different things, side effect from a medication, allergies (there are not tests for everything) food, plants. Indoor allergies to something they can't test for. I went to an allergist that had me wash my sinuses out every day. It was 2 cups of distilled water, as warm as I could tolerate & 1 teaspoon of non-iodide salt (plain salt) flush one side of nostril (sinus) with one cup of solution & then the other with the other cup. Not only did my sinuses stop going nuts I didn't cough all the time, and I haven't had a cold in almost 2 years. Try a different doctor, but pay attention and see if you notice if he coughs more when he's in a certain area compared to another, or after he takes a certain medication, or eating a food. Write it down you never know what might help. Does he have heart burn? Try elevating the top of his bed 6 inches so that he doesn't lie flat, if it's heart burn the gravity will help keep the acid down.

Answer 3

Is your father by any chance taking ace inhibitors for his blood pressure? Some people (including me) have a sensitivity to these that makes their cough reflex "kick in" when it shouldn't. It sounds as though you're sick when you're perfectly ok. I know it's a long shot, but it's worth checking into.

Good luck, and I hope he's feeling better soon.

Answer 4

Take him to another Dr for a third opinion, someone who will sit down and listen to your concerns and have his lungs x rayed to see whats causing the chronic cough. Sometimes the tiniest details are often overlooked...his persistant cough is evidence of that....

Answer 5

My dad coughs alot too. Maybe 10+ times everyday, it's because all of the crappy food he eats. He doesn't care he says he'll die anyways.

Answer 6

hey there..its nice and good that u are concerned with your dad..here's what i think... sometimes, some medications has that side effect and it only stops when he stops taking the medications that might cause it..it happened into my dad and my friend...they tried not taking the med that they suspected is causing it, and i stopped..and if thats not the case, why dont u go to a specialist or someone who can really explain to you whats wrong with daddy...ok? tc and im praying daddy will be better!

Answer 7

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Answer 8

I would continue with an Allergist, not a family doctor. He can be given test to determine what type of condition he has, it may be just a habit from a former condition.

Answer 9

Does he work in construction? It could be asbestos.

Then again, maybe he has some sort of chest cold that's turning into pneumonia, or maybe the pollution in your city is taking its toll on him. Hope he gets better.

Answer 10

Could be post nasal drip. It irritates the back of your throat, and it is caused by mucus dripping down the back of your throat, which is cleared by coughing. That, or he is secretly a smoker.