Is this asthma?

Question

well ive had this horse ..barking sounding cough for a long time now...ive relized alot of ppl have it though..but sometimes when my lungs feel kinda tight i make my self cough to kinda open my lungs up a little bit..like sometimes it feels like i need to open up my lungs..i have no wheezing sounds at all though, i have a bad case of scoliosis and sinus issues since i was really little..could it be asthma? mayb anxiety? will the medicines 4 asthma make me depend on them? im onli 14 too..thanks!

Answer 1

Honey, I worked as a respiratory therapist for almost 20 years. I do not believe your condition is asthma. Sounds to me that perhaps your scoliosis is inhibiting your ability to draw a breath easily. Your trachea splits about mid chest into two airways. They keep getting smaller and smaller. I think you may have an inability to draw a deep enough breath because of the spine bending your lung so it can't take a deep breath on one side, and perhaps on the other side, the lung is stretched and damaged. I don't know how severe the scoliosis is, but see a doctor. That can be corrected these days. If you are indeed as young as you say, go to a hospital sponsered by Jude Childrens Network, and you can have surgery for free. ---- AND, your sinuses can play a big role in your shortness of breath. That, too, can be treated. You may have allergies. Go see someone and get treatment. Your to young to be forced to live with these problems when you don't have to.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I'm also a Respiratory therapist and an asthmatic. You may have some reactive airway disease but the main problem is probably the scoliosis-your thorax is restricted from expanding properly to breathe. You really must see a doctor to deal with these issues properly.
As for the medicines you may need-I'm kinda dependent on air myself so while these drugs aren't "addictive" per se, you may find if they help you breathe you will want to use them again and again! Good thing they have little to no side effects.

Answer 4

See a doctor. It sounds like a respiratory virus, whooping cough or bronchitis.

With asthma, you have difficulty breathing and you do wheeze.

Answer 5

Much better if you talk to a doctor and not people here. If it is asthma it will get worse and it can kill. My wife died from an asthma attack 18 months ago.