Hi, I am a 62 yr. old female.  I have been troubled with respiratory problems for the last four to five years.  My Dr. says asthma,  Several times in the last two yrs. I narrowlly escaped hospitilization.  I almost always have shortness of breathe and at night when I exhale I can hear wheezing.  A year ago after a scan I was told I have multiple nodular densities in both lungs.  Could this be the cause of my problems?  My father passed away from emphysema as did several of his family members, my mother from auto-immune hemolytic anemia.   Could there be a genetic component for the lung disease?   My physician has taken a wait and see stance.  I have never smoked, however I was exposed to second hand smoke.  Thanks, Mary
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your concern. Yes, multiple nodular opacities in both lungs can cause breathlessness. Actually, possibility of interstitial lung disease (Pulmonary fibrosis) is more in your case. It causes breathlessness, wheezing, nodular opacities in lungs, and it does have genetic predisposition. So better to consult pulmonologist and get done clinical examination of respiratory system, PUT (Pulmonary Function Test) and lung biopsy to confirm Pulmonary fibrosis. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.