Cough and heart problems: I have an... - British Heart Fou...

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Cough and heart problems

Pippy36 profile image
16 Replies

I have an irritating cough that seems to be from my throat. (No fluid on lungs). I can sort of feel phlegm at back of throat and at times have been able to cough up - it is just clear. I have cardiomyopthy/hear failure and I have taken all the same meds for years without side effects. My nose seems a bit runny at times and cough is usually when I move to different air tempertature. I am not getting any more out of breath than usual. Has anyone else had a problem like this? Would appreciate any replies. Thanks

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Pippy36 profile image
Pippy36
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16 Replies
Firefl profile image
Firefl

Hi puppy I new to this site and your post caught my attention because I have heart problem that is of yet undiagnosed and I have an appointment with private cardiologist in December.

I was drew to your post because I also have a throat cough especially during the night while asleep. Eventually I wake up coughing. No phlegm just strong throat cough but I do sleep in a cold bedroom. It never happens while I am awake during the day or while out with dog in freezing temperatures.

My reply is not really any help to you. Sorry about that. On the other hand your post has helped me solve my coughing issue that perplexed me. Thank you for that.

Have a runny nasal clear out when I wake at my usual time (night after cough issue ) but not during cough spell.

Hope you get some helpful replies

Pippy36 profile image
Pippy36 in reply to Firefl

Thanks for replying

I can sleep without coughing - cough just comes and goes, usually when I go from warm to cold air. I am having an irin infusion next week si.hoping that could help.

daveofpensby profile image
daveofpensby

Hi Pippy

I have H F with 34 E F not sure what meds your on but I find if my dose of rampiril is increased I get a similar thing. It maybe one of your meds that’s causing it

Pippy36 profile image
Pippy36 in reply to daveofpensby

Thanks for responding

I have been on Ramapril.(5mg) for many years so am presuming it's not Ramapril causing cough. It's driving me nuts!

If I have any info I will update.

daveofpensby profile image
daveofpensby in reply to Pippy36

Good luck

Calm2 profile image
Calm2 in reply to Pippy36

I was on Ramipril for a long time before the cough started and the minute it was changed cough stopped?

hillofbeans profile image
hillofbeans in reply to Pippy36

Pippy 36 - have you asked for another replacement drug - Ramipril is awful for coughing. I was put on another drug instead. Cannot recall what I am afraid - if you have not asked for a change of drug already perhaps you should.

shwills profile image
shwills

Hello

I have Cough with white phlegm it’s quite common with heart failure according to my HF nurse, I have moderate HF

Have a word with your nurse or doctor

They haven’t give anything for it it’s something I have to put up with but it’s not terrible

Hope this helps

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers

Hi Pippy, my husband has HF and also has this cough. He's been tried on all sorts of different meds including anti histamines but nothing has worked. He's had lung function tests, x rays, scans and lungs are fine. He been told its just a heart cough and providing the phlgm is clear then it's not a problem. The cough is worse in the mornings & evenings, damp or hot weather! My husband has had the cough for years, you do get used to it though.

Pippy36 profile image
Pippy36

Thank you so much for your reply.

My lungs are clear too and, like your husband I have tried many meds. I had two days this week when not so bad and today I can't stop coughing. My cough is ok when I am in bed and at its worst when I hit cold air. I also cough if I bend down. I thought it may be post nasal drip. I have had it for 9 weeks now - it irritates me, let alone others! Just hoping iron infusion helps

Lezzers profile image
Lezzers in reply to Pippy36

Have you been tried on meds for post nasal drip? Your cough does sound worse than my husbands if its all day at times. My husbands is a lot of clearing of the throat, except as I said mornings, evenings etc. Would really be interested to know if the iron infusion works

Grayjay profile image
Grayjay

Try sleeping with an extra pillow , I find it helps me a lot. Also I take a sip of Buttercup syrup before settling down.

Raft profile image
Raft

Hi Pippy, I have had a similar cough and had it before I started on Ramipril.

I saw my GP and he said it was either nasal drip or silent reflux and suggested Omeprazolee for the reflux. I tried this but did not seem to resolve problem.

But when it comes to the nasal drip I realised that it could be down to the eye drops I take at night to prevent Glaucoma.

The advice when taking them is to put your finger where the eye and nose join, but at night I find this difficult to do every time. I also can taste the drops at the back of my throat!

So I am inclined to put my cough down to nasal drip which irritates the back of the throat and mostly occurs at the end of the day.

I had an xray and everything was OK.

Pippy36 profile image
Pippy36

Thanks for replying. I often think it is post nasal drip I have but I do.not have blocked nose just a feeling that I sometimes have phelgm at back of throat. I cough so much - some days worse than others, and my throat seems to 'catch' . causing me to cough, especially when air temperature changes but also at rest. I do not have to sleep propped up as cough doesn't bother me during night. I have increased Furosomide from 20mg to 40mg on advice of HFnurse and hope this may help.

Diogenes1000 profile image
Diogenes1000

I have recovered from heart failure and am currently taking Ramipril for blood pressure control. I have developed an irritating tickly cough which is apparently a side effect of Ramipril.

hillofbeans profile image
hillofbeans

Yes dry tickly cough with Ramipril - not a phlem type issue. Sorry I did not read all the posts properly. Maybe post nasal drip but usually causes night time issues too - well it does for me :)

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