Mojo
Mostly harmless
...Medicine 2.0.
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The plural of anecdote is...
- Thread starter Mojo
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Wolfman
Chief Solipsistic, Autosycophant
Actually, I will state for the record that the "Beijing cough" or "Beijing hack" is a well-known and common phenomenon here. I get it at least once a year, sometimes twice. It is a persistent, repetitive cough that lasts for a month or more, and tends to get far worse at night; I cough so hard and frequently that my ribs and stomach muscles will ache with the pain. Despite numerous visits to the hospital, and many different treatments, all that they can do is alleviate the effects, and wait for it to run its course.
Beyond that, I have a more regular chronic cough that I just live with. Anything can set it off...breathing hard from running, inhaling a bit of cigarette smoke, etc. The doctors have told me that it is, essentially, smoker's cough. I've never smoked a cigarette in my life.
I'm far from being the only one with these problems; they are a common topic of conversation. It most definitely is a result of the pollution. I have friends here who justify smoking based on the argument that, "At least that way, I'm getting my air through a filter."
Beyond that, I have a more regular chronic cough that I just live with. Anything can set it off...breathing hard from running, inhaling a bit of cigarette smoke, etc. The doctors have told me that it is, essentially, smoker's cough. I've never smoked a cigarette in my life.
I'm far from being the only one with these problems; they are a common topic of conversation. It most definitely is a result of the pollution. I have friends here who justify smoking based on the argument that, "At least that way, I'm getting my air through a filter."
aggle-rithm
Ardent Formulist
Professor Yaffle
Butterbeans and Breadcrumbs
I used to get bouts of coughing just like you describe - it was asthma.
aggle-rithm
Ardent Formulist
So did I! In my case, I didn't want to go to the doctor. But then, I ran into someone whose dog had the same cough, so I...
...........
No, wait. That was an episode of Seinfeld.
Never mind.
Wolfman
Chief Solipsistic, Autosycophant
Prof, I've been examined by specialists, as have many others with the Beijing hack; it is most definitely not asthma, and traditional asthma treatments do nothing to help it whatsoever...they don't even alleviate it.
Wolfman
Chief Solipsistic, Autosycophant
Actually, the Beijing hack tends to follow the same pattern for most people. All you need is an ailment -- a cold, allergies, asthma, etc. -- that causes you to start coughing. The initial ailment may go away quickly, but the cough stays. There's very little phlegm, and generally no breathing problems; just a very persistent irritation in the esophagus that causes frequent coughing.
rdaneel
Philosopher
That sounds like a persistent problem I've always had with my throat. Get sick for a few days and cough for the next month. I'm fine otherwise but people around me start worrying that I'm dying or something. I absolutely have to have a humidifier in winter to keep the dry air from setting it off.