A nagging cough or slight wheeze may barely register in the course of our busy days, but it's critically important to pay attention to even mild symptoms. Sometimes people think having trouble breathing is just something that comes with getting older. It is important to pay attention to these symptoms as they could be the first signs of lung disease, including COPD, asthma and lung cancer. Knowing the early warning signs of lung disease can help you receive treatment before the disease becomes serious or even life threatening. If you experience any of the following warning signs, make an appointment with your healthcare provider as soon as possible. Early detection could save your life.
Warning Signs
Chronic cough: A cough that you have had for eight weeks or longer is
considered chronic. This is an important early symptom that tells you something
is wrong with your respiratory system.
Shortness of breath: It's not normal to experience shortness
of breath that doesn't go away after exercising, or that you have after little
or no exertion. Laboured or difficult breathing—the feeling that it is hard to
breathe in out—is also a warning sign.
Chronic mucus production: Mucus, also called sputum or
phlegm, is produced by the airways as a defence against infections or
irritants. If your mucus production has lasted a month or longer, this could
indicate lung disease.
Wheezing: Noisy breathing or wheezing is a sign that
something unusual is blocking your lungs' airways or making them too narrow.
Coughing up blood: If you are coughing up blood, it may be
coming from your lungs or upper respiratory tract. Wherever it's coming from,
it signals a health problem.
Chronic chest pain: Unexplained chest pain that lasts for a
month or more—especially if it gets worse when you breathe in or cough—also is
a warning sign.
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