Understanding Throat Irritation and Dry Cough: Is It Asthma?
Itchy throat and dry cough? I have a habit of running 10 kilometers or hiking regularly, and I participate in full marathon events. I do not smoke or drink alcohol. I have been experiencing nasal allergies, often sneezing, and I frequently have a scratchy throat and dry cough, al...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: You may have allergic rhinitis, so be careful not to consume overly cold foods. If you are not experiencing difficulty breathing, you might consider not using bronchodilators for the time being![Read More] Understanding Throat Irritation and Dry Cough: Is It Asthma?
Understanding Left Chest Pain: When to Seek Medical Help
Left chest tightness and pain? Hello Doctor: I have been experiencing a localized pain in my chest since September of last year, which led me to visit a pulmonologist. A chest X-ray was taken, and it showed no significant issues. At that time, the doctor suspected it might be gas...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: If recent X-rays are still normal, it is still worth considering arrhythmia or neuralgia. The former requires ongoing follow-up and treatment by a cardiologist, while the latter necessitates adjustments in lifestyle, ensuring adequate rest, reducing stress, and avoiding co...[Read More] Understanding Left Chest Pain: When to Seek Medical Help
Understanding Right Chest Pain: Causes, Concerns, and Next Steps
Right chest pain? Hello, Doctor. Since early November last year, I have been experiencing pain in my right chest, and even now, the issue persists with increased intensity. The pain worsens when I raise my arm, bend my neck, or push myself up. I consulted a doctor who suggested i...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Mr. Meng: Given your age, it is indeed unlikely to consider a tumor, and the absence of any signs on X-rays over such a long period should help rule that out. However, if there has been poor posture over an extended period, it could potentially lead to muscular or neurologic...[Read More] Understanding Right Chest Pain: Causes, Concerns, and Next Steps
Chest Pain and Hardness: When to Seek Medical Attention?
Pain in the center of the chest upon pressure? Recently, I have been feeling a hard lump located at the lower center of my chest when lying down. It causes pain when pressed, and while standing, it sometimes feels less pronounced, but it becomes more noticeable when lying down. S...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Ms. Lu: The area you mentioned should be the xiphoid process. In fact, the xiphoid process is a piece of cartilage at the lower end of the sternum. During childhood, it is not very prominent because it is made of cartilage. However, in adulthood, the xiphoid process graduall...[Read More] Chest Pain and Hardness: When to Seek Medical Attention?
Understanding Chronic Chest Pain: Causes and Specialist Recommendations
Thoracic issues I have a deep, "sour" pain in my chest that requires tapping and rubbing for relief, but since it is deep, the effect is limited. Various examinations, including X-rays, have not revealed the cause. This symptom has troubled me for over ten years, and I ...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: If all tests are normal, it is likely more related to neuropathic pain. It may be beneficial to focus on improving lifestyle habits, such as engaging in moderate exercise, enhancing sleep quality, reducing emotional fluctuations, and managing stress appropriately, to see i...[Read More] Understanding Chronic Chest Pain: Causes and Specialist Recommendations
Understanding Chest Pain: When to Seek Medical Help for Lung Discomfort
Chest and lung discomfort or pain? My husband often experiences a painful tightness in both lungs (the kind that is very painful). It gets a bit better after resting, but then the pain starts again. Previously, he had X-rays and an electrocardiogram, which showed no abnormalities...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello: If you have already seen a cardiologist and a pulmonologist with no abnormalities found, you can consult a neurologist or a pain specialist.[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain: When to Seek Medical Help for Lung Discomfort
Understanding Sudden Breathing Difficulties and Throat Spasms
Feeling of insufficient breath, sudden sensation of spasms from the larynx to the trachea? Since middle school, I have occasionally experienced a sudden feeling of not being able to get enough air, requiring me to take a deep breath through my mouth. Usually, this resolves the is...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Shaqima: Based on your description, it seems to be a type of allergy, possibly related to variant asthma. I recommend undergoing relevant allergen testing. Sometimes, certain environmental factors or food allergies can trigger symptoms even without direct contact. It’s best ...[Read More] Understanding Sudden Breathing Difficulties and Throat Spasms
Navigating Critical Care: A Father's Battle with Pneumonia and Ventilation
Dad is intubated in the intensive care unit? Hello, doctor. My father went to the emergency room in early March due to physical discomfort, which was diagnosed as a urinary tract infection (after chest X-ray and CT scan) leading to fever and sepsis (with a white blood cell count ...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Ms. Tsai: It is advisable to perform a tracheostomy if you cannot be weaned off the ventilator in the short term. Keeping a chopstick in your mouth continuously is quite uncomfortable. After the tracheostomy, you can still train to wean off the ventilator. If it is truly imp...[Read More] Navigating Critical Care: A Father's Battle with Pneumonia and Ventilation
Should You Get a Low-Dose CT Scan After Smoking? Expert Insights
X-ray and low-dose CT (computed tomography)? Hello Doctor: I have a smoking history of 15 years and have quit for about a year. On January 30 of this year, due to my past smoking habits, I wanted to get a low-dose CT scan in the pulmonology department. However, after getting an X...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello: Chest pain cannot definitively indicate the presence or absence of lung cancer. If you are still concerned, you may consider undergoing a low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan.[Read More] Should You Get a Low-Dose CT Scan After Smoking? Expert Insights
Post-COVID Chest Tightness: Understanding Symptoms and Solutions
The symptoms that occur after contracting COVID-19? There is a feeling of tightness near the left chest close to the shoulder, left armpit, left side, and left ribs. Breathing is not smooth, and there is a slight feeling of chest tightness. Two months ago, X-rays and blood tests ...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello: The described symptoms are non-specific and require evaluation by a physician.[Read More] Post-COVID Chest Tightness: Understanding Symptoms and Solutions
Understanding Left Chest Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and Concerns
Sharp pain in the left chest? Hello Doctor, I have occasionally experienced chest tightness and pain in the past, but in the past week, I have noticed a more pronounced pain and tightness in my left chest. This occurs more frequently between 7 PM and 11 PM, lasting anywhere from ...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: Your pain seems to be migrating and is not localized, which is more characteristic of neuropathic pain. In cases of mitral valve prolapse, patients often experience chest tightness and difficulty relaxing, which can also lead to neuropathic pain. If you haven't had a ...[Read More] Understanding Left Chest Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and Concerns
Persistent Cough: Seeking Solutions for Ongoing Symptoms
Persistent cough that does not resolve? The patient was diagnosed with a fever around February 1, lasting for three days. After taking medication for one week, there was slight improvement, but the cough persisted. On February 8, the patient took a traditional Chinese medicine (T...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello: You can go to the thoracic medicine outpatient clinic for a chest X-ray and pulmonary function re-evaluation. Dr. Wu Ying-Hsun (acting).[Read More] Persistent Cough: Seeking Solutions for Ongoing Symptoms
Understanding Chest Discomfort: Symptoms, Causes, and Remedies
Discomfort in the chest? Hello doctor, about a month ago, I went for a run in cold weather, but halfway through, I started experiencing chest pain. I ignored it and continued running, but since then, my chest has been feeling uncomfortable with sharp and tight pains, especially w...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: Cold air may also stimulate the sensory nerves in the alveoli. Typically, this should resolve on its own as the weather warms up or with reduced consumption of cold beverages. However, I recommend that you consult a gastroenterologist to manage your gastroesophageal reflux...[Read More] Understanding Chest Discomfort: Symptoms, Causes, and Remedies
Understanding Tuberculosis Recurrence: Symptoms, Testing, and Follow-Up Care
Pulmonary tuberculosis may relapse after treatment? Hello Doctor: Thirteen years ago, I was diagnosed with asymptomatic pulmonary tuberculosis and completed a two-year treatment course as directed by my physician. I did not have any follow-up afterward. In January and February of...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Peipei: Regarding your questions, 1. Abdominal tuberculosis indeed requires a pathological and microbiological diagnosis for confirmation. 2. It is recommended that TB patients undergo a chest X-ray (CXR) annually for monitoring. 3. Currently, the diagnosis cannot be confirm...[Read More] Understanding Tuberculosis Recurrence: Symptoms, Testing, and Follow-Up Care
Understanding Chronic Cough: When to Seek Medical Attention for Your Mom
Itchy throat and cough? The definition of a persistent cough is typically a cough that lasts for more than eight weeks in adults. In your mother's case, if she has been coughing three to four times each morning for the past two weeks, it may not yet meet the clinical definit...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear ERIC: A cough lasting for three weeks without improvement can be classified as a chronic cough. Further evaluation is necessary, and it is recommended to consult a pulmonologist for a chest X-ray (CXR) examination. Changhua Hospital cares about your health.[Read More] Understanding Chronic Cough: When to Seek Medical Attention for Your Mom
Understanding Tuberculosis Transmission and Treatment Risks in Families
Tuberculosis-related issues? Hello, Doctor! My father was diagnosed with open pulmonary tuberculosis in 2020 and was hospitalized for nearly a year for treatment. After that, both my mother and my daughter tested positive and received preventive medication. I, myself, tested nega...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Megan: Thank you for your inquiry. 1. You had a nodular shadow in the past, which suggests that you may have had an infection that is currently in a dormant state as a granuloma. Although preventive medication was administered, it may not have completely eradicated the inf...[Read More] Understanding Tuberculosis Transmission and Treatment Risks in Families
Understanding Pulmonary Fibrosis: Discrepancies in Lung Health Reports
Pulmonary fibrosis In mid-January, my labor health examination report indicated mild fibrosis in my upper lung, but I later received my military health examination report from December of last year stating that my lungs were normal. Is it possible to have different results in suc...
Dr. Zhou Ziguang Reply:
Hello: The chest X-ray may exhibit slight variations due to the angle of exposure and the settings used. Different physicians may also report slightly different findings on the same X-ray, especially regarding shadows that are not significant, uncertain, or of limited clinical re...[Read More] Understanding Pulmonary Fibrosis: Discrepancies in Lung Health Reports
Understanding Lung Atrophy: Causes, Treatments, and Rehabilitation Options
Lung atrophy Hello, this month's low-dose computed tomography (CT) scan shows lung atrophy. What are the possible causes of atrophy? Are there any treatment or rehabilitation options available? Thank you for your response. Low-dose CT of the chest without contrast enhancem...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Health: Lung atelectasis is incomplete expansion, generally due to the degeneration of the ciliated epithelium in the trachea or is often a result of previous infections. As long as there is no mucus accumulation, no special treatment is necessary. You can perform deep breat...[Read More] Understanding Lung Atrophy: Causes, Treatments, and Rehabilitation Options
Understanding Central Chest Discomfort: Is It Acid Reflux?
Central chest tightness and pain? Hello, about two days ago I felt a tightness in the center of my chest, and the area between my stomach and chest felt uncomfortable. The tightness has since subsided, but I still experience some pain in the area between my stomach and chest. I a...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Xiao Lin: Based on your description, it seems appropriate to start with medications for gastroesophageal reflux. If there is no improvement, we can proceed with an endoscopy. Changhua Hospital cares about you.[Read More] Understanding Central Chest Discomfort: Is It Acid Reflux?
Post-Surgery Follow-Up for Lung Adenocarcinoma: Key Considerations
Follow-up for Lung Adenocarcinoma Hello Dr. Huang, I underwent a thoracoscopic surgery this month to remove a 0.6 cm ground-glass nodule, which was diagnosed as lung adenocarcinoma (Acinar type). The doctor recommended some follow-up: 1. Schedule an MRI with contrast for the brai...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Jay: After undergoing a PET scan, if the findings are limited to the lungs, there is no need for frequent follow-up chest X-rays. For the first two years, a CT scan should be performed every six months, and thereafter, further imaging will be based on necessity. Changhua Hos...[Read More] Post-Surgery Follow-Up for Lung Adenocarcinoma: Key Considerations