A cough that lasts for three weeks or longer could be a symptom of lung cancer, experts from the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) have warned, according to the Daily Mirror.
As the newspaper explains, in most cases a cough is associated with more common causes such as a cold, the flu, or COVID-19. However, sometimes it can indicate the development of an oncological process. According to the NHS, symptoms to watch out for include a cough that doesn’t go away or gets worse, recurrent respiratory infections, coughing up blood, pain when breathing or coughing, persistent shortness of breath, fatigue, loss of appetite, and unexplained weight loss.
The NHS website states that less common signs of lung cancer include changes in the shape of the fingers, difficulty or pain when swallowing, wheezing, hoarseness, and swelling of the face or neck.
“Smoking remains the main risk factor, accounting for more than 70% of all lung cancer cases. Other possible causes include exposure to radon, asbestos, and coal fumes,” the doctors concluded.
