Sometimes, people think that difficulty breathing is just something that comes with age. In fact, it may indicate characteristics of dirty lungs that need to be addressed immediately.
Toxin contamination in the lungs can be caused by various factors, ranging from smoking, exposure to chemicals, air pollution, viral and bacterial infections, or the growth of abnormal cells that cause cancer. As a result, various mild to severe lung diseases emerge that threaten human life, such as:
- Asthma
- Tuberculosis (TB)
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolism
- Lung cancer
Unfortunately, Indonesia is the third country with the highest number of cigarette users. So, to reduce the conditions related to lung problems, get rid of cigarettes from now on and consume fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants diligently.
Characteristics of dirty lungs
It is important to pay attention to the characteristics of dirty lungs for early diagnosis of lung diseases that may occur. Quoted from Parade, please note the following conditions:
1. Chest pain
Pain in the chest area that lasts longer than a month could be a sign of a serious lung condition, such as lung disease. The condition can be very painful when a person takes a deep breath, coughs, or laughs.
2. Excessive mucus production
The natural mucus in the lungs has a special job, which is to catch harmful microorganisms and small particles that enter from the respiratory tract so they don’t spread throughout the body. However, a viral infection or a buildup of toxins causes increased mucus production due to irritation. These symptoms can last up to an extra month.
3. A lot
Wheezing is a characteristic wheezing sound that appears when a person takes a breath. This health problem results from a narrowing of the respiratory organs which affects the airflow from the lungs.
4. Cough never goes away
A persistent cough indicates a buildup of dirt or infection in the lungs. While often overlooked, a cough that doesn’t go away within two weeks is a specific sign of life-threatening diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cancer.
5. Easily tired
A pulmonologist at Loma Linda University Health in Southern California, Dr. Laren Tan, FCCP, notes that fatigue and sleepiness are often associated with sleep apnea, which is a disease that can cause sleep disturbances by blocking the airways.
“This causes breathing to be harder than usual during the day or night,” she explains. Additional symptoms of this condition include:
- Memory and concentration problems
- Snoring a lot
- Headache in the morning
- Dry mouth
- Repeated irritation
6. Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath is a feature that occurs most often when the lungs cannot function optimally. This can be caused by infection or lung damage. One of the life-threatening causes of shortness of breath is pulmonary embolism. Because the condition can come just like that or without chest pain.
7. Voice changed
When the lungs cannot expand properly, the sound becomes very soft or small. Other causes are vocal cord dysfunction and asthma.
8. Blue nails
Blue fingernails can be a sign of cyanosis, which is a condition where there isn’t enough oxygen circulating in the blood. This disease is a sign of unhealthy lungs due to the accumulation of harmful substances that cause the infection. Other things that affect cyanosis are heart disease and cold weather.
9. Weight loss
Lung disease causes many physical problems, one of which people rarely realize is weight loss for no apparent reason.
10. Recurrent lung infection
Infections like bronchitis and pneumonia that don’t go away or come back can mean that remnants of the virus haven’t completely disappeared. On the other hand, this condition is also a sign of a more serious disease, such as cancer.
The characteristics of dirty lungs can be ascertained through photographic images (X-rays). Never underestimate the condition, especially for cigarette smokers. This is because early screening can reduce the risk of serious complications occurring.
Watch a video “Comparison of lungs of vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 patients“
[Gambas:Video 20detik]
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