Shortness of Breath and Cough? A Guide to Your Next Healthcare Steps in Houston, TX

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Shortness of Breath and Cough? A Guide to Your Next Healthcare Steps in Houston, TX

If you’ve been coughing a lot and find it harder to catch your breath—even during simple activities like walking around your house—you’re understandably concerned. Feeling tightness in your chest and wheezing, especially at night or with movement, can feel alarming. When your cough just won’t go away and you’re frequently out of breath, it’s important to find out what’s causing these symptoms and get the right care. You’ve come to the right place.

This guide is here to help you understand the types of healthcare professionals who can assist you with these symptoms in Houston, what kinds of tests or treatments you might expect during your first visits, and an idea of the costs you can anticipate if you’re paying out-of-pocket. Our goal is to empower you with information so you can take your next healthcare steps confidently and calmly.

Who to See for Your Symptoms in Houston, TX

Based on your symptoms of shortness of breath, persistent cough, chest tightness, and wheezing, a few types of doctors could be good starting points:

  • Pulmonary Disease Specialists: These are lung experts who diagnose and treat conditions affecting your breathing, such as asthma, bronchitis, or other lung diseases.
  • Allergy/Immunology Doctors: These specialists look for allergies or immune system causes that might be contributing to your cough and breathing issues, including allergic asthma.
  • Family Practice Doctors: General doctors who can evaluate a wide range of health concerns and are excellent for initial assessments. They can help diagnose, provide treatment, or recommend specialists.
  • Internal Medicine Providers: Specialists in adult medicine who often manage complex health conditions and can investigate causes behind symptoms like yours.

Each provider type can run specific tests and offer treatment options to help you breathe easier.

What to Expect: Initial Visits and Estimated Costs

Here is a breakdown of the typical procedures that these providers might perform during your initial visits in Houston, along with estimated self-pay costs. This will give you a clearer picture of what to expect both medically and financially.

Visit with a Pulmonary Disease Specialist

  • Procedure: Established patient office or other outpatient visit, 30-39 minutes (CPT Code: 99214)
    Purpose: This is a detailed evaluation where the doctor discusses your symptoms, reviews your medical history, and performs a physical exam focused on your lungs and breathing.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $189.95 (typically ranges from $142.46 to $237.44)
    This estimate is based on 81 pulmonary disease providers in Houston.

  • Procedure: Test to measure expiratory airflow and volume (CPT Code: 94010)
    Purpose: A breathing test that measures how much and how quickly you exhale air, helping to diagnose conditions like asthma or COPD.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $35.81 (ranges from $19.78 to $51.85)
    Based on 53 providers offering this.

  • Procedure: Test to examine how well the lungs exchange gases (CPT Code: 94729)
    Purpose: Measures how effectively your lungs move oxygen and carbon dioxide, useful for evaluating lung function in more depth.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $58.72 (ranges from $44.04 to $73.40)
    Available through 71 providers locally.

  • Procedure: Inhalation treatment for airway obstruction or sputum production (CPT Code: 94640)
    Purpose: A treatment where medications are inhaled to open airways or loosen mucus, helpful if you’re wheezing or have airway inflammation.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $16.52 (ranges from $11.14 to $21.90)
    Provided by 4 specialists.

  • Procedure: X-ray of chest, 2 views (CPT Code: 71046)
    Purpose: A chest X-ray to check for infections, lung problems, or other causes of cough and breath difficulty.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $42.73 (ranges from $32.02 to $53.44)
    Offered by 11 providers.

Visit with an Allergy/Immunology Doctor

  • Procedure: Established patient visit, 30-39 minutes (CPT Code: 99214)
    Purpose: Evaluates if allergies or immune reactions are causing your respiratory symptoms, which can be common triggers.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $199.87 (ranges from $149.90 to $249.84)
    Provided by 38 specialists in Houston.

  • Procedure: Test to measure expiratory airflow and volume (CPT Code: 94010)
    Purpose: Same breathing test as above to assess lung function affected by allergies or asthma.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $40.10 (ranges from $30.07 to $50.12)
    Offered by 12 providers.

  • Procedure: Test to measure rate of airflow (CPT Code: 94375)
    Purpose: Measures how fast air moves through your lungs – helps pinpoint airway problems due to allergic reactions.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $61.33 (ranges from $46.00 to $76.66)
    Available with 14 allergists.

  • Procedure: Inhalation treatment (CPT Code: 94640)
    Purpose: Delivers medication directly to your lungs to ease obstruction or ease coughing.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $19.02 (ranges from $11.04 to $27.00)
    Offered by 1 provider.

Visit with a Family Practice Doctor

  • Procedure: Established patient office visit, 30-39 minutes (CPT Code: 99214)
    Purpose: General health exam where the doctor listens to your symptoms and examines your heart and lungs to find the cause.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $195.94 (ranges from $146.95 to $244.92)
    Wide availability with 511 providers.

  • Procedure: Routine electrocardiogram (ECG) (CPT Code: 93000)
    Purpose: Measures your heart’s electrical activity to rule out heart-related causes of shortness of breath.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $24.25 (ranges from $17.44 to $31.06)
    Offered by 108 providers.

  • Procedure: Inhalation treatment (CPT Code: 94640)
    Purpose: Inhaled medication to open airways and help improve breathing during the visit if needed.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $20.97 (ranges from $10.93 to $31.01)
    Offered by 4 providers.

  • Procedure: Automated urinalysis test (CPT Code: 81003)
    Purpose: A urine test to check for infections or other issues that sometimes contribute to feeling unwell.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $4.67 (ranges from $2.63 to $6.71)
    Used by 66 providers.

  • Procedure: Complete blood cell count (CBC) (CPT Code: 85025)
    Purpose: Blood test to check for infections, inflammation, or anemia that might explain some symptoms.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $12.11 (ranges from $9.08 to $15.14)
    Offered by 55 providers.

Visit with an Internal Medicine Doctor

  • Procedure: Established patient visit, 30-39 minutes (CPT Code: 99214)
    Purpose: Detailed exam focusing on adults to find causes of ongoing symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $194.75 (ranges from $146.06 to $243.44)
    Accessible through 492 providers.

  • Procedure: X-ray of chest, 2 views (CPT Code: 71046)
    Purpose: Chest imaging to detect lung infections, abnormalities, or other issues related to cough and breathing difficulty.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $48.43 (ranges from $36.32 to $60.54)
    Available from 20 providers.

  • Procedure: Routine electrocardiogram (ECG) (CPT Code: 93000)
    Purpose: Heart test to check if your symptoms might be related to heart or circulation problems.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $23.94 (ranges from $17.41 to $30.47)
    Provided by 159 providers.

  • Procedure: Inhalation treatment (CPT Code: 94640)
    Purpose: Quick relief inhalation therapy during the visit if you have airway obstruction or mucus.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $19.13 (ranges from $11.09 to $27.17)
    Offered by 3 providers.

  • Procedure: Test to examine how well the lungs exchange gases (CPT Code: 94729)
    Purpose: Advanced lung function testing to check oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange efficiency.
    Estimated Self-Pay Cost: $46.08 (ranges from $25.03 to $67.13)
    Available from 4 providers.

Your health and peace of mind matter most, so here’s how to move forward:

  1. Schedule an Appointment: Contact a pulmonary specialist, allergist, family practice, or internal medicine doctor in Houston to discuss your symptoms. Early evaluation is key to getting an accurate diagnosis.
  2. Prepare for Your Visit: Write down your symptoms, when they started, what makes them better or worse, and any questions you have. This helps your provider understand your situation thoroughly.
  3. Discuss Costs Upfront: When booking your appointment, ask about the expected charges for visits and tests. The costs shared here are estimates based on local providers’ information and can help you plan financially.
  4. Follow Through with Recommended Tests: Your provider might suggest breathing tests, imaging, or treatments to best understand and manage your condition.
  5. Stay Positive: Seeking professional advice is the right step toward feeling better and managing your health properly.

Need Help Navigating Your Options?

Finding affordable, trustworthy care can be confusing, especially if you’re uninsured or new to the system. That’s why we built Transparent Health: a tool to help you understand your options and find the right provider for your needs.

Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information and estimated costs based on available Houston area data. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider regarding any medical condition.