Cough / Dyspnea

Question 1

What is a pulse Ox used for?

Answer 1

1. Screening method used to asses o2 levels

Question 2

What is the normal range for a pulse ox

Answer 2

1. > 96%: 70mmHg
2. <94% means hypoxemia (low blood O2 that can lead to hypoxia)

Question 3

What needs to be consider when a patient comes in with a CC of a cough

Answer 3

1. OLD CARTS
2. Time of year
3. Social history
   *smoking, occupation, environmental exposures
4. COVID-19
5. How long it has been happening

Question 4

What is a cough

Answer 4

1. A stimulation of mechanical or chemical Afferent nerve receptors
   *occurs in the bronchial tree, where the cough initiates and is a protector mechanism

Question 5

What is dyspnea

Answer 5

1. Uncomfortable breathing
2. Varies widely, increases with age
   *patient perception
3. Mechanical efforts of breathing, compensatory tachypnea, pulmonary vasculopathy

Question 6

What are some of the DDx of a cough

Answer 6

1. Viral rhinosinusitis, URI
2. Postnasal drip
3. Obstructive pathology (asthma, COPD)
4. Pneumonia
5. Gastroesophageal reflux (common cause of intermittent/persistent cough)
6. Immunocompromised patient
7. CHF, PE, ACE inhibitor use

Question 7

What is postnasal drp

Answer 7

1. Sensation of post anal drainage or the need to frequently clear throat

Question 8

What obstructive pathologies can cause a cough

Answer 8

1. Asthma
   *potentially reversible, have worse respiratory symptoms, worse lung function
2. COPD

Question 9

What is a common cause of intermittent or persistent cough

Answer 9

Gastroeophageal reflux

Question 10

How to treat a cough

Answer 10

1. Treatment is based on underlying cause

Question 11

What are the DDx of a chronic cough

Answer 11

1. Allergic fungal sinusitis
2. Allergic rhinitis
3. Bacterial sinusitis
4. Occupational rhinitis