Maryland’s Health Matters - UMMS - Spring 2017 - 4

AT A G L A N C E

6 Lung Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore
It's normal to cough occasionally or feel out of breath every once in a while. But if lung-related
symptoms persist, it could be a sign of a lung disease, such as asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or lung cancer. If you experience any of these lung disease
warning signs, make an appointment with your health care provider.

SHORTNESS
OF BREATH

CHRONIC
COUGH

Discomfort with breathing
when doing normal activities,
such as getting out of a chair,
may be a sign of a heart or
lung condition.

A cough that you've had
for a month or more is
one of the earliest warning
signs of a problem with
your respiratory system.

CHRONIC MUCUS
PRODUCTION

Chest pain that gets worse
when you breathe in or
cough is a warning sign of
lung disease, especially if it
lasts for a month or more.

Mucus is a defense against
infections and irritants.
Mucus production that lasts
a month or longer may be a
sign of lung disease.

SOURCE: AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION

CHRONIC
CHEST PAIN

WHEEZING

COUGHING
UP BLOOD
The blood could be coming
from your lungs or
somewhere else in your
upper respiratory tract.

▲

In addition to the symptoms
above, other signs of COPD
are frequent respiratory infections, fatigue, and blueness of
the lips and fingernail beds.

▲

More than 11 million
Americans suffer
from COPD, the
third-leading cause
of death in the U.S.

▲

ALL
ABOUT
COPD

Noisy breathing indicates
something unusual
is blocking your lungs'
airways or making them
too narrow.

Smoking causes roughly
90 percent of COPD cases.
There is no cure for COPD,
but the condition can be
prevented and treated.

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maryland’s Health Matters - UMMS - Spring 2017