Shortness of Breath and Cough
(smartypance.com)2025|2026 questions and
answers already graded A+
30 yo M presents with shortness of breath, cough, and wheezing that worsen in cold air. He
has had several such episodes over the past four months.
Asthma
56 yo F presents with shortness of breath, as well as a productive cough that has occurred
over the past two years for at least three months each year. She is a heavy smoker.
COPD
58 yo M presents with pleuritic chest pain (sharp chest pain that worsens during breathing),
fever, chills, and cough with purulent yellow sputum. He is a heavy smoker with COPD.
Pneumonia
25 yo F presents with two weeks of a nonproductive cough. Three weeks ago she had a sore
throat and a runny nose.
Atypical pneumonia
,65 yo M presents with worsening cough over the past six months together with hemoptysis,
dyspnea, weakness, and weight loss. He is a heavy smoker.
Lung cancer
55 yo M presents with increased dyspnea and sputum production over the past three days. He
has COPD and stopped using his inhalers last week. He also stopped smoking two days ago.
COPD exacerbation
34 yo F nurse presents with worsening cough of six weeks’ duration together with weight
loss, fatigue, night sweats, and fever
Tuberculosis
50 yo M presents with a cough that is exacerbated by lying down at night and improved by
propping up on three pillows. He also reports exertional dyspnea.
CHF
Cough Reflex Arc
Pathway involving sensory and motor nerves for coughing.
Afferent Pathway
Sensory fibers transmit impulses to the medulla.
Central (Cough Center)
, Region in upper brain stem coordinating cough reflex.
Efferent Pathway
Nerves send impulses to diaphragm and abdominal muscles.
Productive Cough
Cough with secretions; can be effective or ineffective.
How secretions may be In productive cough?
clear
discolored
malodorous
Non-productive Cough
Dry cough without physiologic benefit.
What are the most common complications of cough?
exhaustion
sleep deprivation
hoarseness
What are the most common complications of cough?
syncope
(smartypance.com)2025|2026 questions and
answers already graded A+
30 yo M presents with shortness of breath, cough, and wheezing that worsen in cold air. He
has had several such episodes over the past four months.
Asthma
56 yo F presents with shortness of breath, as well as a productive cough that has occurred
over the past two years for at least three months each year. She is a heavy smoker.
COPD
58 yo M presents with pleuritic chest pain (sharp chest pain that worsens during breathing),
fever, chills, and cough with purulent yellow sputum. He is a heavy smoker with COPD.
Pneumonia
25 yo F presents with two weeks of a nonproductive cough. Three weeks ago she had a sore
throat and a runny nose.
Atypical pneumonia
,65 yo M presents with worsening cough over the past six months together with hemoptysis,
dyspnea, weakness, and weight loss. He is a heavy smoker.
Lung cancer
55 yo M presents with increased dyspnea and sputum production over the past three days. He
has COPD and stopped using his inhalers last week. He also stopped smoking two days ago.
COPD exacerbation
34 yo F nurse presents with worsening cough of six weeks’ duration together with weight
loss, fatigue, night sweats, and fever
Tuberculosis
50 yo M presents with a cough that is exacerbated by lying down at night and improved by
propping up on three pillows. He also reports exertional dyspnea.
CHF
Cough Reflex Arc
Pathway involving sensory and motor nerves for coughing.
Afferent Pathway
Sensory fibers transmit impulses to the medulla.
Central (Cough Center)
, Region in upper brain stem coordinating cough reflex.
Efferent Pathway
Nerves send impulses to diaphragm and abdominal muscles.
Productive Cough
Cough with secretions; can be effective or ineffective.
How secretions may be In productive cough?
clear
discolored
malodorous
Non-productive Cough
Dry cough without physiologic benefit.
What are the most common complications of cough?
exhaustion
sleep deprivation
hoarseness
What are the most common complications of cough?
syncope
