Doctor warned about the hidden threat of lung diseases

Dangerous lung diseases can progress for years without coughing or other obvious signs until the organ's function becomes seriously compromised. Pulmonologist Sandeep Nayar issued this warning in an interview with Times of India.

As reported by TUT.AZ, in the early stages, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and asthma may not manifest through coughing at all. Instead, a person may experience persistent fatigue, shortness of breath during routine physical activity, a feeling of tightness in the chest, shallow breathing, and leg swelling.

According to the pulmonologist, even when the disease gains momentum, patients often dismiss 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 specifically noted that a gradual decline in the ability to handle routine physical exertion may be one of the most common early markers that the lungs are beginning to fail.

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