You may think that the cough you’ve had for the past few days is not a huge concern. But, a persistent cough, if not taken seriously, may result in quite a few chronic respiratory conditions. Respiratory diseases and conditions are quite common in the country. It is crucial to recognize what to look for and when to see a health care provider. This article lists some common symptoms and respiratory diseases and conditions.

Common symptoms
There are various common signs to look for in respiratory diseases and conditions. Some of the common symptoms are:

Difficulty breathing
Any difficulty in breathing should be evaluated and treated by the physician.

Chronic cough
If you have a stubborn and chronic cough that has not subsided in months, it may be an indicator of some respiratory ailment.

Stubborn Mucus
If you have been coughing up phlegm or there is drainage in the chest for more than a month, you need to get it treated by a health care expert.

Severe chest pain
If you experience sudden, severe, and lingering chest pain for more than a month, it may be a symptom of some respiratory conditions.

Coughing up blood
Coughing up blood is a serious concern, and it should be treated by a healthcare professional.

Wheezing
If you are breathing noisily, it could be an indication of the airways being obstructed.

Types of respiratory conditions
A few of the different kinds of respiratory conditions that you should be aware of are:

Asthma
It is a chronic respiratory condition that causes inflammation in the airways, making breathing very difficult. It has been found that asthma affects an average of 25 million people in the country. Individuals with a family history of asthma, severe childhood respiratory illness, or respiratory allergies are at a higher risk of developing this disease. The common asthma symptoms are wheezing, tight chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is an umbrella term used to describe two types of respiratory conditions: Emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Approximately 15 million individuals have been diagnosed with COPD in the country, and nearly 12 million are believed to have the disease but have not been officially diagnosed. Emphysema develops when the small air sacs, known as alveoli, in the lungs become damaged or lose their elasticity. Chronic bronchitis is a respiratory condition wherein the lining of the bronchial tube becomes inflamed and irritated. The swelling makes breathing difficult and leads to excess mucus production. The common symptoms of COPD are wheezing, chronic cough, and the production of a lot of mucus.

Pneumonia
It is a generic diagnosis, and there are various types of pneumonia, such as bacterial, viral, fungal, aspiration, and mycoplasma, which is also called “walking pneumonia.” In pneumonia, the infection occurs in the air sacs of the lungs. The common symptoms of the condition are chills, fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, chest pain, and a cough with phlegm.

Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis is also listed among the respiratory conditions. It is a bacterial lung disease caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis. It has been found that more than 1.8 million people have the condition all across the globe, but the disease is found to be active in 10 million of them. Common tuberculosis symptoms include night sweats, fever, weakness, fatigue, poor appetite, and a cough lasting for more than three weeks.

Lung cancer
Lung cancer is the third most common among all types of cancers, with more than 218,000 individuals in the country affected. It may develop gradually and with no symptoms in the initial stages. However, as it progresses, symptoms could include chest pain, wheezing, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, chronic cough, weakness, fatigue, difficulty swallowing, and swelling in the neck or face.

Cystic fibrosis (CF)
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a respiratory condition affecting about 35,000 people in the country. This condition makes the mucus in the body very thick, which may cause digestive and breathing problems. CF may affect many parts of the body. The common symptoms are wheezing, nasal polyps, constipation, foul-smelling and greasy stools, sinus infections, production of thick mucus, and a cough that does not go away.

In conclusion
This article has explored various common symptoms and respiratory conditions you need to be aware of. Some of them, such as asthma, are not avoidable. Still, lifestyle changes and modifications may help reduce the severity of symptoms. It is advisable to consult your health care provider when you have any issues with breathing that doesn’t subside for a long time. Early detection can prevent these and other respiratory conditions from becoming worse.