3 early warning signs of lung disease

During an evaluation, your doctor will likely ask about your work history and other possible exposures, since everything from air pollution to smoking can cause lung disease. “Someone who

spent their lifetime working in construction, with or without good protection, is at risk for occupational lung disease,” says Jamie Garfield, M.D., a volunteer medical spokesperson for the

American Lung Association and a professor of thoracic medicine and surgery at Temple Lung Center. “So if they develop the cough in their 60s … I would be suspicious for the beginning

symptoms of an occupational lung disease,” Garfield adds. Your doctor may use a machine called a spirometer to measure how much air you can breathe in and out. This test is commonly used to

help diagnose asthma and COPD. A chest X-ray can also help your doctor see what’s happening in the lungs.  LOWER YOUR RISK OF LUNG DISEASE You can do some things to lower your risk for

developing lung diseases, health experts say. If you smoke, quit. Doing so is “very difficult,” Garfield acknowledges, but “your doctor has resources available to help.” And if you are 50 or

older and are, or used to be, a heavy smoker, talk to your doctor about getting screened for lung cancer, Wang Memoli says. Screening recommendations from the American Cancer Society

recently changed to include adults ages 50 to 80 (ACS) who currently smoke or used to smoke the equivalent of one pack a day for 20 years, no matter how long ago they quit. Also, test for

radon (a colorless, odorless gas known to cause lung cancer) in your home, and steer clear of asbestos, dust and chemical fumes. And since some lung diseases are caused by germs, be sure to

keep up with handwashing and stay up-to-date on your vaccines, including shots for flu and COVID-19. Health officials also recommend that people 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccine,

which can help protect against pneumonia. The take-home message, Wang Memoli says, is that “if [your symptoms] are significant enough where they’re bothering you, don’t ignore them.” WOMEN

AND LUNG DISEASE The number of women in the U.S. diagnosed with lung disease, and dying from lung disease, is on the rise. Here’s what you need to know: * Three of the most common lung

diseases in women are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. * In every year since 2000, more women than men have died from COPD. * In 2018, chronic lower

respiratory disease, primarily COPD, was the fourth leading cause of death among women. * The percentage of women, especially young women, with asthma is rising in the U.S., and the reason

is unclear to researchers. * In the U.S., more women now die from lung cancer than from any other type of cancer.  _Source: U.S. Office on Women’s Health and the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention_ _Editor's note: This story, originally published Nov. 14, 2022, has been updated to reflect new information._