Lung problems are quite common worldwide but often enough, those who are displaying any type of lung issue unless it is causing them not to breathe at all ignore it. The occasional breathlessness here and there won’t make them run to the doctor, and they will often ignore it if they are coughing a lot as well. However, that is never a good idea.
In fact, there are 12 warning signs that your lungs are yelling for help right away. Let’s look at what they are now.
Exposure To Substances In The Air Causes You To Not Breathe Properly
Do you struggle to breathe when you are exposed to smoke, pollen, other allergens, pollution, chemicals, and other sprays? Do you also struggle to breathe if you catch a common cold? That is because your airways are inflamed each time you encounter any of those which causes you to struggle to catch a breath. You could have asthma which means you need to have an inhaler to help you breathe when you have an attack. What if you have an extreme asthma attack where you just stop breathing?
Breathing Is Labored It Exhausts You
Are you breathing so hard to the point it makes you fatigued? Then you could have COPD. If you have either emphysema or chronic bronchitis or both, this can cause Chronic or Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD. Your lung tissues are weakening as it creates more mucus which makes it very hard to breathe. You may wheeze, cough, and struggle to take a breath which is the result of the airways being too narrow. You need immediate health if you are experiencing signs of COPD.
Coughing Rusty Colored Sputum
If you are struggling to catch a breath and coughing up rusty colored sputum, then it could be a sign of lung cancer. You cannot wait around if you have developed these symptoms as you will need to have your lungs x-rayed. But if there is a tumor found then you will need to have it removed. Pollutants and smoking whether it is first or second hand can cause cancer cells to grow in your lungs.
Shortness Of Breath
Shortness of breath can be a sign of anything, even as benign as allergies. But if you are also experiencing feelings of malaise and coughing, then you could have pneumonia. If it is bacterial, you will go on antibiotics. But if it is viral, then you will have to take care of yourself as you heal from it at home.
You Cannot Stop Coughing Or Wheezing
If you have this cough that won’t stop or if you keep wheezing, that is not normal. If you suspect you have allergies, then take antihistamines and see if those symptoms disappear. But if not, then you have something else serious happening which could be signs of COPD, asthma, or lung cancer.
You Struggle Taking The Stairs
If you are not overweight and you are struggling to catch a breath as you take the stairs up, then you are dealing with a serious lung issue. It is one thing to be overweight and struggling to catch a breath as you take the stairs up, but if you are not, then your lungs are not functioning properly. You need to see your doctor to be examined as you could have conditions such as COPD.
You Cough Blood
If you are coughing up blood that is never a sign to ignore as it can be a sign of lung cancer, or it can be COPD. Sometimes you could cough blood due to pulling an abdominal muscle and your lungs may be fine otherwise. But either way, you never want to let this issue slide.
Your Voice Changes
If you have been yelling or you have a cold, your voice will change. However, if none of those things have happened and your voice is changing – then that could be due to your lungs being problematic. If anyone tells you that your voice has changed, don’t laugh or slough it off. This could be a result of COPD as the lung capacity becomes less as it is harder to talk.
You Have Shoulder Pain That Happens At Random
Did you do some exercises or carry something heavy and strained a muscle as a result? Then that can explain your shoulder pain. However, if none of that happened and the pain happens at random, then that could be a sign of lung cancer. This is also an early symptom so you may not experience other symptoms which means you need to get this taken care of right away.
Cyanosis Of Your Fingertips
If your fingertips are turning blue which is known as cyanosis, or your lips are and even your skin, then that means you are not getting enough oxygen in your blood. This can lead to brain damage and this can result from having a major COPD attack. You cannot wait on this before you suffer serious consequences.
You Are Having Unexplained Weight Loss
If you are not trying to lose weight but you are dropping those pounds, then you can never ignore the warning signs of that. You could have either lung cancer or COPD. COPD patients struggle to breathe so much that they burn a lot of calories while attempting to breathe which is why weight loss occurs.
Your Coughing Keeps You Up At Night
If you don’t have a cold or even a bout of bronchitis and you are coughing to the point it is keeping you up at night, then you could have asthma. Perhaps it is GERD or allergies which are not related but you cannot ignore this issue if you are losing sleep from coughing all night.
If you display any of these serious symptoms, then your lungs are not functioning properly and you must go to the doctor to get your lungs checked right away. It could be quite serious which will require prompt treatment to keep you alive.
