Know the signs of lung disease Don’t ignore the signs The symptoms of lung disease can be hard to notice at first. For instance, you might think a cough, or another symptom, is just something that happens when you get older. Stay alert for these common symptoms: • Chronic cough. If you’ve had a cough for eight weeks or longer, get it checked out, even if it doesn’t seem like a big deal. • Chronic mucus production. Everyone produces mucus, but if it feels like you have more than usual and it has been going on for a month or more, it could indicate an underlying issue. • Chronic chest pain. Don’t ignore chronic pain in your chest, especially if it hurts worse when you breathe or cough. • Shortness of breath. If you get out of breath even when you aren’t exercising, this is a red flag. Any time you feel that inhaling or exhaling is hard for no reason, it could signal lung problems. • Coughing up blood. This is a clear sign there’s some kind of health problem. The blood could be coming from your lungs or respiratory tract. • Wheezing. Wheezing, or a whistling sound as you breathe, often points to obstructed or narrow airways. Your lungs move fresh oxygen into every cell of your body. Most of the time, you probably don’t even think about breathing. When lung disease happens, it can bring pain and make breathing a struggle. Knowing the warning signs can help you avoid serious illness or even death. Some common types of lung disease are: • Asthma. • Emphysema. • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). • Lung cancer. 8 FAITH REGIONAL Health Services
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