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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffWhile you may initially consult your family physician, he or she may refer you to a pulmonologist — a doctor who specializes in lung disorders.
What you can do
You may want to write a list that includes:
- Detailed descriptions of your symptoms
- Information about medical problems you've had
- Information about the medical problems of your parents or siblings
- All the medications and dietary supplements you take
- Questions you want to ask the doctor
What to expect from your doctor
A thorough medical history and physical exam can provide important clues about a chronic cough. Your doctor may ask some of the following questions:
- Do you now or have you ever smoked tobacco?
- Do you take blood pressure medicine? If so, what type do you take?
- When does your cough occur? After meals? At night?
- Does anything relieve your cough?
- Do you get more short of breath with exertion? Or on exposure to cold air?
- Silvestri RC, et al. Evaluation of subacute and chronic cough in adults. http://uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 9, 2009
- Rosenow EC (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 27, 2009.
- Approach to the patient with a cough. In: Mason RJ, et al. Murray & Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/124735402-3/813991400/1288/241.html. Accessed March 9, 2009.
- Hill DG. Cough. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/124890287-5/814421311/1621/18.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4435-2..50010-8--cesec4_130. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Weinberger SE, et al. Treatment of subacute and chronic cough in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Upper endoscopy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Bronchoscopy. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/bron/bron_whatis.html. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Prednisone. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601102.html. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerd. Accessed March 10, 2009.
- Natural medicines in the clinical management of cold and flu: Cough. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed March 10, 2009.
