The dangers of smoking are well known. Cancer, an increased risk of respiratory illness and a lowered immune system are all potential health issues that arise from smoking. In fact, even tobacco companies must provide warnings about the serious health risks a person takes when they choose to smoke. While public awareness campaigns are effective for helping people avoid picking up the habit, smoking addictions are often so strong that a person continues to engage in the behavior even when they are aware of the risks.
Sadly, smoking is directly responsible for the majority of cases of deaths that occur from cancer and COPD. While this may seem daunting, there is the hope that more people can avoid this fate if they catch the early warning signs of damage from smoking early on and take action to quit the habit. For many people, the symptoms of smokers lung are the first to appear and this condition can sometimes be reversed if it is caught in the earliest stages. For this reason, anyone who smokes or knows someone who does should be aware of these signs of a smokers lung so that they can take prompt action to seek treatment to preserve their health and help them end their addiction.
1. Cough
A smokers cough can begin shortly after a person first begins to smoke, and it tends to worsen as time goes on. You may notice that your cough gets worse first thing in the morning, or it may be especially bad after you smoke a large amount in a short period of time. At first, this type of cough is dry and sounds similar to what you might experience during a viral respiratory illness. Over time, however, it deepens. Those who suffer from a true smokers cough will also experience other symptoms that differentiate it from a normal one.
A person with smokers lung may have a raspy cough that is caused by the accumulation of mucus in their lungs. Alternatively, they may also have a raw, sore throat that occurs from coughing so much. Crackling sounds or whistling coming from the chest are a few more signs that the cough is severe. People with this type of cough may also notice an exacerbation in their symptoms after any type of heavy activity. You should always be concerned if you experience any type of cough that lingers for more than three days or one that worsens despite your efforts to reduce your smoking habits.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]2. Chest Pain
Pain in the chest of smokers is a symptom that should never be ignored. In some cases, chest pain may be a side effect of someone having a severe or frequent smokers cough. This is because deep coughing can strain the muscles in the chest, especially if a person has poor muscle tone to begin with. Chest pain could also signify a medical emergency such as blood clot in the lung that could occur if the condition is allowed to progress. Tightness in the lungs can also cause pain, and this is caused by your lungs trying to take in more air despite being inflamed.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]3. Shortness of Breath
Diminished lung capacity is another sign that you are developing this condition. Although it is normal to be slightly out of breath after you run up a flight of stairs or finish a strenuous workout, you should not be short of breath after your normal activities. Shortness of breath occurs when the muscles in your lungs become too damaged to take in enough oxygen. You may also feel this symptom as mucous begins to fill your lungs and take up the space where air should go. The good news is that shortness of breath is one of the earliest symptoms to go if you begin to work on ending your smoking habit.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]4. Wheezing
Hearing a whistling noise as you breathe is never a good sign, and this can be caused by both smoking as well as secondary conditions such as asthma and COPD. Several different lung issues that are all affected by smoking cause wheezing. For instance, a person may wheeze if their airway becomes narrowed by inflammation or tightened muscles. You can also wheeze if you develop a tumor in your lungs that restricts the airflow. Too much mucus or phlegm in your lungs also causes a wheezing sound that may be accompanied by crackling. Keep in mind that wheezing can be subtle enough that you may not always hear it without using an aid such as a stethoscope.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]5. Recurring Infections
People with smokers lung sometimes feel as though they have a bad case of bronchitis that just won’t go away. Recurring infections are common among smokers because the lungs are unable to filter out bacteria and viruses properly. Your airway and lungs are lined with tiny hairs called cilia, and these hairs help to trap bacteria before they reach the deeper levels of tissue. Over time, chronic smoking damages the cilia until they are reduced in number and unable to do their job. The increased amount of mucus in the lungs also contributes to frequent infections since it provides a ripe place for bacteria and viral illnesses to flourish.
Smoking causes inflammation and increases risks for infections. Persistent bacterial lung infections are common among those who smoke consistently. Smoking leaves the immune system open to catching infection much easier than a healthy non-smoker. Most respiratory infections need to be treated immediately as they affect ones breathing. Recurring lung infections lead to pneumonia.
Some symptoms of recurring infections include shortness of breath, fever, productive cough, changes in mucus, and chest pain.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]6. Bloody or Rust Colored Sputum
Your lungs can only take so much damage, and smoking generates heat that harms your lungs. Each inhalation of a smoking device also sends chemicals into your lungs that slowly strip away the protective lining of your organs. As injuries occur internally along your esophagus and inside of your lungs, small lesions may develop that bleed. Severe coughing can also generate enough force to break the damaged lining of your lungs. The bloody or rust colored sputum that occurs with smokers lung may accompany a cough, and it tends to be worse when you first wake up. Always mention this sign to your physician since it can often signify that you are in the later stages of the condition.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]7. Hoarseness
Smokers sometimes develop a temporary round of hoarseness after smoking that may or may not be accompanied by a sore throat, but you should be concerned if your hoarse voice lingers for more than a day. This is because hoarseness signifies inflammation in your airways, and this may be more severe if you also suffer from shortness of breath. Once you have a hoarse voice, stop smoking immediately, and try a few soothing self-care measures at first. For example, drinking warm tea should help to soothe the inflammation. If this does not alleviate the hoarseness, then seek a professional opinion to find out if smokers lung is the cause.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]8. Swelling of the Neck and Face
There is a large vein in your chest that is called the superior vena cava. This vein helps to carry blood from the upper part of your body into the heart. When this vein becomes blocked, the blood can no longer flow properly and symptoms such as the swelling of the neck and face occur. Typically, obstructions of this vein arise from severe disease or illness such as a tumor in the lungs. Cancerous changes in this part of your body can also cause the lymph nodes to swell. Since these are located throughout your neck, you may notice this as swelling that extends along the areas where your lymph nodes are found.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]9. Unexplained Fever
Smokers sometimes get used to their unusual lung symptoms. For instance, you or someone you love may blame their shortness of breath on being out of shape. However, an unexplained fever always warrants an investigation in smokers since it could mean that something more serious is happening within the lungs. Unexplained fevers could be caused by a developing respiratory illness such as bronchitis that is treatable. Yet, a fever could also be the symptom of a chronic lung disease that requires you to quit smoking immediately. Cancer can also weaken the immune system and cause you to run a fever due to the body’s attempt to fight what it recognizes as foreign cells.
[nextpage title=“Next” ]10. Pain or Weakness in the Limbs
Smoking damages the lungs to the point where your body is no longer able to get enough oxygen sent into the bloodstream. Without enough oxygen flowing through your body, your muscles are unable to respond appropriately. Reduced oxygen in the blood tends to be felt most prominently in your legs since they are the furthest from your heart. However, you may also note pain or weakness in your arms as well. People with smokers lung often describe this as feeling as though weights are attached to their limbs since every movement is increasingly difficult. Getting your lungs into a healthier state helps to alleviate this and the other life-altering symptoms of smokers lung.
