Alternative Treatments for Pneumoconiosis: Exploring New Options
Are there other treatment options for pneumoconiosis? My father has been taking medication for pneumoconiosis for 5 to 6 years, but there has been no improvement. A few months ago, he underwent further examination, and the cardiologist noted that there are bacteria in his lungs a...
Dr. Huang Ruiming Reply:
Dear Miss K: Pneumoconiosis is an occupational respiratory disease caused by the inhalation of dust. Currently, it cannot be cured, but to prevent respiratory failure due to infections, it is advisable to seek treatment from a specialist in pulmonary medicine. The Hualien Hospita...[Read More] Alternative Treatments for Pneumoconiosis: Exploring New Options
Understanding Nighttime Chest Pain: Causes and Solutions
Chest pain while sleeping? Between 11 PM and 1 AM, I experience sudden, intense chest pain, as if someone is hitting my heart. I can hear my heart beating rapidly, and breathing doesn't help; I can only wait for the pain to subside. This episode lasts for about 3 to 5 minute...
Dr. Wu Yingxun Reply:
Consult a cardiologist to check for issues such as mitral valve prolapse or arrhythmias.[Read More] Understanding Nighttime Chest Pain: Causes and Solutions
Understanding Lung Nodules: Should You Be Concerned About Size Changes?
Pulmonary nodule enlargement? Hello Doctor, I had a health check-up at Taipei Kang Ning Hospital last December, and there were about six nodules in my lungs, two of which were larger GGO (ground-glass opacities) with the hospital report indicating sizes of 0.55 and 0.5. In April ...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: The changes are indeed minimal and within the measurement error range, unlike the behavior of tumor cells. It is recommended to follow the physician's advice for annual CT scans. If you are still concerned, a follow-up chest X-ray after six months can also be consider...[Read More] Understanding Lung Nodules: Should You Be Concerned About Size Changes?
Unexplained Left Chest Pain: Causes and Concerns Explored
Unexplained pain in the left chest? Hello Dr. Yang, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for your patient response to another question. I do not smoke or drink alcohol, but I have been experiencing chronic post-nasal drip and gastroesophageal reflux. I have been on choles...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: Thank you for your clear description! Based on the previous suggestion, you can consider seeing a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner to adjust your constitution and modify certain lifestyle habits.[Read More] Unexplained Left Chest Pain: Causes and Concerns Explored
Chronic Cough: Understanding Causes and When to Seek Treatment
Persistent cough that does not improve? I have been coughing for a long time, at least a year. It started as a cold, and I often had colds. I remember two years ago I just felt like I had phlegm, but then I don't know when it started that I began to cough continuously. Somet...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
Dear Yise: There are many causes of chronic cough, but based on your description and age, I personally believe it may be due to allergies. You should consider going to the hospital for further examination, especially regarding asthma-related tests, as this condition can sometimes...[Read More] Chronic Cough: Understanding Causes and When to Seek Treatment
Understanding Left Chest Pain: Causes and When to Seek Help
Left chest tightness and pain, near the heart area? Sudden chest discomfort without any physical impact, characterized by a dull ache rather than sharp pain or palpitations. I have been experiencing intermittent left chest pain for three days (with fluctuations in intensity). Aft...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: Your age indicates a lower probability of heart disease, and your electrocardiogram shows no abnormalities. It seems more like neuralgia (consider adjusting your lifestyle if you are experiencing high stress and a fast pace of life), or it could be esophageal spasm or gast...[Read More] Understanding Left Chest Pain: Causes and When to Seek Help
Understanding Latent vs. Active Tuberculosis: What You Need to Know
Question about pulmonary tuberculosis? In the case of tuberculosis (TB), if a person shows no symptoms, has no discomfort, and experiences no cough, but a chest X-ray reveals shadows in the lungs, and subsequent tests show a negative sputum smear for TB bacteria but a positive ba...
Dr. Wu Yingxun Reply:
Hello: It is still classified as open, with a transmissibility of 17%.[Read More] Understanding Latent vs. Active Tuberculosis: What You Need to Know
Understanding Coughing Up Blood: Causes and Next Steps for Patients
Coughing and sneezing with the presence of blood-tinged sputum, blood streaks, or blood spots? The patient has a long-term history of post-nasal drip and gastroesophageal reflux, has been taking cholesterol-lowering medication for an extended period, exercises infrequently, and h...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: Based on the above, it seems that the microvasculature of the nasal cavity, throat, or trachea is relatively fragile and can easily rupture and bleed due to increased pressure (such as from coughing, sneezing, or lifting heavy objects). The bleeding is usually minimal and ...[Read More] Understanding Coughing Up Blood: Causes and Next Steps for Patients
Managing Neck Swelling and Pain in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients
Swelling and pain in the neck? Hello Doctor, my father is 50 years old and has stage IV lung adenocarcinoma. He has completed six cycles of chemotherapy and is resting for a month before starting the seventh cycle. Throughout the process, my father's health has been quite go...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: Your father's condition is best understood by the attending physician. First, we would like to thank the medical team for their effective treatment. However, we would like to ask the attending physician if the discomfort in his neck could be a potential side effect of...[Read More] Managing Neck Swelling and Pain in Advanced Lung Cancer Patients
Cough Management During Tracheostomy Decannulation Training
Tracheostomy tube decannulation training - Coughing issues? Hello doctor, my grandmother was undergoing tracheostomy tube weaning training today, but she coughs roughly every 15-25 minutes, and each time it is quite severe, lasting about 5-10 seconds. It has been four hours now, ...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: If the cough is due to excessive phlegm, it can only rely on caregivers to enhance chest physiotherapy and suctioning. If there is not much phlegm and the airways are just more sensitive, cough suppressants can be used to reduce cough sensitivity. Family members should pri...[Read More] Cough Management During Tracheostomy Decannulation Training
Managing COPD in Elderly Patients: Key Questions for Better Care
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Hello Dr. Huang, my grandmother is currently 86 years old and has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stage III asthma, pneumonia, and stage IV chronic kidney disease. Her lung function is at 53%. She was recently hospitalize...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
DEAR PIG50658: Thank you for your concern for Grandma. If the diagnosis is correct, the current three-in-one medication is the standard treatment. Of course, if you still feel it is not satisfactory, there are two additional oral medications, XANTHIUM and PDE4 inhibitors, that ca...[Read More] Managing COPD in Elderly Patients: Key Questions for Better Care
Understanding Sudden Right Chest Pain: Causes and Concerns
Sharp and dull pain in the right chest? Hello Doctor: Recently, I have experienced two episodes of sudden chest discomfort and sharp pain in my right chest. Both times, the discomfort started suddenly and usually lasted for more than an hour. The first episode occurred in the off...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: It is primarily similar to neuropathic pain, and there should be no pulmonary disease. Avoiding excessive emotional stress can be helpful![Read More] Understanding Sudden Right Chest Pain: Causes and Concerns
Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes, Risks, and Management in Elderly Patients
Pleural effusion Hello doctor, my grandfather is in his 80s and has a history of hypertension, diabetes, asthma, poor lung function, oxygen deficiency, and excessive phlegm (he used to smoke). He has been hospitalized for about 15 days. Today, the doctor explained that he may hav...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: It's best to consult the attending physician to better understand the overall condition and treatment direction for grandpa.[Read More] Understanding Pleural Effusion: Causes, Risks, and Management in Elderly Patients
Understanding Heart Pain and Breathing Issues: A Guide to Mitral Valve Prolapse
Chest pain and shortness of breath? Hello, doctor. I am 165 cm tall and weigh 45 kg. Since high school, I have occasionally experienced shortness of breath, and during severe episodes, I have fainted. However, when I go to the emergency room, they often say there is nothing wrong...
Dr. Zhang Ziyan Reply:
Hello, for heart issues, it is still recommended to consult a cardiologist for examination. Other problems causing shortness of breath cannot be ruled out. You may also consider a consultation with a pulmonologist. Please follow the guidance of your treating physician. Changhua H...[Read More] Understanding Heart Pain and Breathing Issues: A Guide to Mitral Valve Prolapse
Could Back Pain and Coughing Indicate Lung Cancer? A Patient's Concern
Experiencing back pain for two months, along with a recent onset of a dry cough, could raise concerns about various conditions, including lung cancer. However, these symptoms can also be associated with other medical issues. It is important to consult a healthcare professional fo...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: Your age, recent X-ray examination, and history of exposure to carcinogens are not significant. You currently belong to a low-risk group for lung cancer. As for the pain in your upper back, you have already consulted with a rehabilitation specialist. Please follow the phys...[Read More] Could Back Pain and Coughing Indicate Lung Cancer? A Patient's Concern
Assessing the Need for CT Scans in Pediatric Lung Calcification Cases
Pulmonary calcification A 7-year-old child was found to have a pulmonary calcification (one calcified area) at the end of October 2016. Follow-up X-rays were taken in November and January, with the January 24th X-ray showing no changes compared to previous images, although the do...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: If you have a history of allergies, you can discuss with your physician the option of not administering contrast agents, unless the physician considers the presence of a vascular tumor or other lesions that may benefit from enhanced imaging with contrast agents, or you may...[Read More] Assessing the Need for CT Scans in Pediatric Lung Calcification Cases
Understanding Stage IV Lung Adenocarcinoma: Pain Management and Survival Rates
Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma I would like to ask about a situation where a patient has been coughing for a long time, leading to chest pain and side abdominal pain, and subsequently sought medical attention. It was discovered that there is pleural effusion, and after hospitalizat...
Dr. Huang Yiwen Reply:
DEAR OZ: Cancer staging is assessed using the T (tumor size), N (lymph nodes), and M (metastasis) system. If pleural effusion is related to cancer, it indicates metastasis. If pain persists, a transdermal fentanyl patch can be used. The average survival period is around 6 to 9 mo...[Read More] Understanding Stage IV Lung Adenocarcinoma: Pain Management and Survival Rates
Understanding Lung Calcification in Children: When to Consider CT Scans
Discovery of pulmonary calcification issues? A 7-year-old child was found to have a pulmonary calcification (one calcified area) at the end of October 2016. Follow-up X-rays were taken in November and January, and on January 24, the doctor reviewed the new and old X-rays and repo...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: Calcified nodules may be scar tissue resulting from previous inflammation, and their shape and size are unlikely to change significantly. Since they occupy only a very small portion of the lungs, they will not affect respiratory function. It is recommended that no further ...[Read More] Understanding Lung Calcification in Children: When to Consider CT Scans
Understanding Lung Adenocarcinoma: Risks and Screening for Non-Smokers
Regarding lung adenocarcinoma? Hello, doctor. I would like to ask about my mother, who is in her 50s. She undergoes annual health check-ups and regularly gets chest X-rays. Her overall health is good, her diet is normal, and she does not smoke. There is no family history of lung ...
Dr. Yang Wenda Reply:
Hello: The causes of cancer are still not clearly understood, with both environmental and genetic factors playing a role. It is recommended to have regular X-ray examinations annually, and considering low-dose computed tomography (CT) scans of the lungs every 2-3 years is also ad...[Read More] Understanding Lung Adenocarcinoma: Risks and Screening for Non-Smokers
Chronic Cough and Chest Tightness: Understanding Your Symptoms
Persistent cough and chest tightness? Hello, doctor. After catching a cold in early 2015, I experienced a persistent cough for over two weeks and visited a pulmonologist. An X-ray showed no abnormalities, and the doctor prescribed a herbal syrup (I remember it was either made fro...
Dr. Wang Lanfeng Reply:
Hello, based on your current symptom description, it appears to be an acute asthma attack. I recommend that you visit a pulmonology clinic for further evaluation. Thank you.[Read More] Chronic Cough and Chest Tightness: Understanding Your Symptoms