Questions Your Doctor May Ask

  Chronic Cough

• How long have you had the cough?
• Did your cough start with an illness or a lung infection?
• Do you cough all of the time, or only during or after activity?
• Do you cough after meals?
• What time of the day is your cough the worst?
• Do you cough up mucus? If so, what color is the mucus? Is it thick and viscous, or is it thin and runny? How much mucus do you cough up?
• Do you have chest discomfort with your cough?
• Do you experience difficulty breathing with your cough?
• Have you had a fever recently?
• Have you lost weight recently?
• Do you ever have night sweats?

Shortness of Breath

• Do you feel you have to work hard to breathe?
• For how long have you been feeling short of breath, having difficulty taking a deep, satisfying breath, feeling winded, or working hard to breathe?
• How often do you feel short of breath?
• Are you short of breath all of the time, or only during or after activity?
• Do you limit the kinds of activities you do because of shortness of breath?
• Do you also have a cough?
• Do you experience wheezing with your shortness of breath?
• Do you experience any chest pain?
• Have you had a fever recently?
• Have you lost weight recently?
• Do you ever sweat at night?
• Do you feel 'tightness' more in your throat or in your lungs?

Diffuculty Breathing

• For how long have you been experiencing difficulty breathing?
• Are there certain seasons or times of the year that you have difficulty breathing more than others?
• During what part of the day do you typically have difficulty breathing?
• Is it worse at certain times than at others?
• Do you also cough?
• Do you also feel short of breath when you have difficulty breathing?
• Do you ever feel like you're choking?
• Do you feel any nasal discharge in the back of your throat (post-nasal drip)?
• If so, is the discharge thick and viscous, or thin and slimy? What color is the discharge? How much mucus are you producing?
• Do you ever experience a gagging or choking sensation?
• Do you feel like you have to clear your throat all of the time?
• Have you had a fever recently?
• Have you lost weight recently?
• Do you ever have night sweats?

Note: A chronic cough, shortness of breath, or wheezing can be symptoms of serious medical conditions. If you experience any of these symptoms, we recommend that you see a doctor.