Many people tend to ignore minor health issues. They often link specific symptoms to being out of shape or growing older. It is easier to ignore symptoms that seem relatively harmless. And these are often telltale signs of lung disease.
Treating chronic lung diseases is easy when caught early. The more the condition exists, the more it progresses and becomes more tricky to treat. As a patient, this can be very dangerous and could even cause death.
But, what signs should you get your lungs checked? Below are the telltale signs, according to the American Lung Association, that you have a chronic lung disease:
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Chronic Cough
When your lungs are in danger, you will cough constantly. But when you have a chronic cough, it can be not very pleasant.
And this is because your lungs are trying to get rid of the junk inside them, but they aren’t able to do it successfully. Besides, chronic cough is among the main symptoms of most lung diseases.
So don’t ignore the simple signs that you should get your lungs checked!
Shortness of Breath
Shortness of breath can be a result of heart disease. But it may also be caused by the enlargement and narrowing of the airways or pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure).
Unless you’re very fit, you’ll at times experience shortness of breath while practicing any physical exercise. If you realize that you run out of breath in strange situations, you’ll need to see your doctor.
This sign is also one of the main symptoms of lung cancer and asthma. So please, don’t ignore your shortness of breath!
Massive Production of Mucus
When your lungs are in danger, they produce mucus more than usual. And this is because the irritated cells of the respiratory system do it.
Mucus acts best natural defense mechanism for the body against irritants and infections in the air paths.
When you have a cold or flu, the production of mucus or sputum is high, and that’s common. However, if mucus production becomes excessive and more regular, it means that you could be having a chronic lung disease.
For instance, if you have asthma or chronic bronchitis, you know that when you wake up in the morning, your throat and sometimes your nose will be covered with thick yellow mucus.
Coughing Up Blood
If you are coughing up blood, you have some bleeding in your lungs. And this may not be good for your health. If the reason is an inflammation of your respiratory system or pulmonary embolisms (blood clots), be sure to see a doctor immediately!
Sometimes, the coughing up of blood is just a sign that your body is low on iron or Vitamin B-12. So, if you’re healthy and haven’t got any infections, then it’s probably not serious! But please see your doctor anyway.
Chest Pain
The organs in your chest area are between your lungs, so if they are damaged, it causes pain. And this is commonly experienced by people with COPD(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
So please don’t ignore any chest pain you get! It can be a sign that your lungs are in danger or that something else is wrong with your chest.
Feeling Tired All The Time
People with lung diseases are much more likely to feel tired all the time. This is because their lungs aren’t getting enough oxygen, making it much harder for them to do any physical activity or exercise. Even sitting around doing nothing could be tiring for someone whose lungs are in danger.
Besides this, other lung diseases, such as heart disease and cancer, can cause tiredness too. So don’t ignore any fatigue you get! Something might be wrong with your lungs or another organ in your chest.
Wheezing
When you have lung disease, it causes wheezing. And wheezing is simply the noise of air rushing through your lungs when they’re not working 100%.
It is a sign that something uncommon is making your lung’s airways too narrow or blocking them.
People with asthma can wheeze, but people with COPD also do. So don’t ignore any noises or breathing problems!
Tightness On The Chest
When you have a lung disease, the muscles surrounding your lungs will tighten. This is because of the inflammation of the lungs caused by infections or other conditions.
This tightening makes it harder for you to breathe, which makes the sufferer experience shortness of breath and chest tightness that makes it hard for them to breathe.
You must see a doctor as soon as possible if you are feeling tightness in your chest.
Lung disease doesn’t usually have symptoms in the early stages, so you must see your doctor immediately when you feel something is wrong with your breath or experience any of the symptoms mentioned above. Moreover, try to avoid things or factors that can impact negatively on your lung health. Such things include inhaling resin, prolonged exposure to smoke, or carbon monoxide/dioxide. It helps to have the best HEPA air purifier for wildfire smoke.