Morning Cough, Wheezing or Frequent Chest Infections? When Should You Get Your Lungs Checked?

-Dr. Pavan Yadav M V, Clinical Director & Senior Consultant – Interventional Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine, Associate Director - Lung Transplantation, KIMS Hospitals, Electronic City, Bengaluru

Morning coughs are normally attributed to a cold, allergies, or even changes in the weather. However, intermittent wheezing is not viewed as being problematic, while chest infections are not necessarily a cause for concern either. When the symptoms recur or worsen, then it may be time to have an investigation carried out.

Cough that lasts beyond three weeks must be investigated, especially when wheezing and difficulty breathing accompany the symptom. The chronic cough can last up to eight weeks and may have several causes including asthma, COPD, perennial bronchitis, allergies, postnasal drip, and acid reflux.

When a morning cough needs attention

However, a chronic cough in the mornings, especially one where there is production of phlegm on a regular basis, should not just be explained away as being due to aging or pollution. It may be an indication of chronic airway disease in smokers as well as workers who are exposed to occupational dust or chemicals.

Frequency is important as well. Any change in frequency or duration of the cough as well as association with wheezing or shortness of breath should be evaluated for the possibility of asthma.

Frequent chest infections are another warning sign

Having a respiratory infection once in a while is quite normal. However, having chest infections frequently, especially where they tend to take more time to heal or there is difficulty breathing along with phlegm, is something that needs to be looked into. Bronchiectasis, asthma and COPD are some conditions where respiratory infections can occur.

Taking cough syrups or antibiotics regularly for treatment without diagnosing the problem could only provide a temporary solution. Particularly, using antibiotics for viral respiratory infections is not effective.

What evaluation may involve

The first step might be a comprehensive physical exam as well as questions regarding smoking, pollution, any allergies, past illness and occupation. Tests for diagnosing the disease depend on symptoms and can include an X-ray of the chest, blood and/or sputum testing, and pulmonary function testing. The test most frequently used to diagnose asthma or COPD is spirometry.

Don't ignore these red flags

If a person experiences coughing of blood, difficulty in breathing that may become worse or persistent, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, fever or rapidly developing symptoms, then there is an urgent need for medical consultation.

What matters is that a person should not worry much about the occasional cough, but be able to understand when a repetitive pattern becomes something more serious than self-treatment.