Doctor warned about the hidden danger of lung diseases

Dangerous lung diseases can progress for years without coughing or other obvious symptoms, until the organ's function becomes seriously compromised. This warning was issued by pulmonologist Sandeep Nayar in an interview with the Times of India.

As reported by TUT.AZ, in their early stages, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and asthma may manifest not with a cough at all, but with entirely different signs — persistent fatigue, shortness of breath during routine physical activities, a feeling of tightness in the chest, shallow breathing, and leg swelling.

According to the specialist, even when the disease gains momentum, people often turn a blind eye to the body's warning signals. They attribute shortness of breath when climbing stairs or during ordinary walking to age, excess weight, or lack of physical activity.

Nayar particularly emphasized that a gradual decline in exercise tolerance may be one of the most common yet insidious early signs that the lungs are beginning to function poorly.

The doctor strongly recommends not delaying a visit to a specialist if unexplained shortness of breath or persistent fatigue has been a concern for two to three weeks. In such cases, it is necessary to see a general practitioner or pulmonologist and undergo spirometry — a test that allows for an objective assessment of lung function.