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Grandpa Li is 69 years old this year, and he is usually quite tough, but he occasionally coughs. In recent months, he has always felt a dull pain in his chest, sometimes coughing so badly that his voice has become hoarse.
His wife watched him get thinner and thinner day by day, and she was very worried, but Grandpa Li always comforted her: "It's okay, it's a little problem, just rest and rest." ”
But one day, when Grandpa Li was washing his face, he suddenly found that the color of his fingers had become dull, as if they had been dyed gray. He was a little panicked, but he still had luck in his heart: "Is there really a big problem?" It's just a normal cough and a hoarse throat, right? ”
When he mentioned these symptoms to his wife, his wife was also a little worried: "You say, could it be that there is really a lung problem?" Should Grandpa Li go to the hospital for a checkup? ”
1. Persistent chest pain
When many people mention chest pain, their first reaction is that they may have a cold, and some people even think that they are angry, tired, or have been stressed too much recently.
It's true that occasional chest pain is mostly caused by these minor problems, but if it persists, it's really something to pay attention to. Especially when chest pain becomes frequent, persistent, and even linked to breathing and coughing, your body may be sending an important signal that something is wrong with your lungs.
When there is an abnormality in the lungs, especially when a tumor grows, it may irritate nerve endings in the chest cavity. And this pain is different from ordinary chest pain, it is more like an invisible "enemy" lurking deep in your chest, which becomes more pronounced and sharper as your breathing deepens and your cough intensifies.
Many people will think, is chest pain related to the heart?
Actually, heart problems do cause chest pain, but there are some differences in how heart pain and lung pain feel. Chest pain caused by the lungs is often accompanied by difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, and even more pronounced when laughing and taking deep breaths.
And this pain is not a sudden and severe pain like a heart attack, it is more like a dull pain that persists, and sometimes people feel that "it's okay, it's okay after a while", but it gets worse and worse.
In addition to the pain itself, it may also be accompanied by chest tightness, or a feeling that the chest is "pressed" after taking a deep breath. At this time, your body is already telling you that it may not just be a common cold or physical fatigue, but an abnormal change in the lungs.
Don't take chances and wait to see if the pain will go away on its own. Your body's alarm lights are already on, especially if you feel pain that is getting more frequent or if it's always there.
Sometimes, this chest pain may be just a minor problem, but if it is an early sign of lung cancer, early detection and early treatment are even more important.
Second, the skin of the fingers is darkened
Many people may not have noticed that the color change of the skin on the fingers can actually reveal a lot of health information. Have you ever noticed that your fingers have darkened in color?
Most people may think it's not a big deal, or it's just cold hands and poor circulation. But in reality, darker fingers can sometimes indicate a more serious health problem, especially one related to the lungs.
When there is a problem in the lungs of the body, especially when lung cancer progresses, it may affect the normal respiratory function of the body. At this time, various parts of the body, especially those farther from the heart, such as the fingers, may appear dark due to lack of oxygen. This change may happen slowly and not easily noticed, but it does alert you that something is wrong with your body's oxygen supply.
The change in the color of the skin on the fingers is not just a temporary change caused by the cold or the external environment. It is more likely to be caused by long-term hypoxia, and the capillaries in the finger area do not get enough oxygen, and the skin color will gradually darken.
When you notice that the skin on your fingers starts to darken, it may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as tiredness, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. This is because when the body doesn't get enough oxygen, the overall metabolism suffers, causing you to feel unwell. And these discomforts can often be mistaken for overwork or a simple cold.
Some people may think that the darkening of the fingers is not so serious, and wait and see if it will get better. However, lung health problems are often latent and progressive. If you notice that not only do your fingers darken, but you also often feel short of breath and have trouble breathing, it may not just be a general minor problem, but a sign of impaired lung function.
Pay attention to every signal your body makes, especially details like finger color changes that are easy to overlook.
Your health needs to be taken care of, and any seemingly inconsequential change could be an important message that your body is sending to you. Don't let health problems go unnoticed and act in time to protect yourself from potential risks.
3. Subcutaneous masses on the chest wall, neck and under the clavicle
Many people may feel uneasy about discovering an unusual lump on their body, especially in the chest wall, neck, or under the collarbone. This uneasiness is not unreasonable, as the presence of lumps in these places may indicate that the body is experiencing some problems that cannot be ignored, especially when these lumps are becoming more and more obvious or accompanied by other symptoms.
If the tumor in the lungs continues to develop, it may invade the chest wall or even the bones, causing a subcutaneous lump.
These bumps are often hard in texture and have a noticeable presence when pressed, and may become more noticeable over time. If the lump persists, or if it feels like it's getting bigger, it's important to take it seriously.
In addition to the chest wall, lumps in the neck and under the clavicle also require special attention.
Normally, lymph nodes are part of the body's immune system, which helps filter harmful substances such as viruses and bacteria, but when lung cancer cells spread to these lymph nodes, the lymph nodes become diseased, forming noticeable lumps. This type of lump is usually hard and does not move easily, and there may be slight pain when pressed.
Many people may think that a lump in the neck or under the collarbone is a common swollen lymph node, which is related to a cold or inflammation. But if the lump persists and there are no obvious signs of inflammation, then there may be a more serious disease behind it.
Especially if you are accompanied by other abnormal symptoms, such as persistent cough, difficulty breathing, weight loss, etc., it is best to get a professional examination as soon as possible.
Lung cancer is a highly insidious disease, and its early symptoms are often not obvious, and by the time it is detected, it may have entered a later stage. Subcutaneous masses in the chest wall, neck, and under the collarbone are often the symptoms of a disease that has progressed to a certain extent, in which case the tumor may have invaded other parts of the body. Because of this, once you find these lumps, you should not take them lightly.
As soon as you notice that you have a similar lump, especially if it is accompanied by other abnormal symptoms, do not delay and get a medical examination immediately. Your health deserves your attention, don't let a small lump turn into a big problem, protect yourself, and pay attention to the changes in your body in time is the best way to prevent diseases.
4. Be wary of the silent "call for help" of the vocal cords
The vocal cords are the key part of our vocalization, and they produce sound through vibration. If a tumor develops in the lungs, it can compress the nerves that control the vocal cords, causing the vocal cords to not vibrate properly. At this time, the voice will change, from clear to hoarse, and even have difficulty speaking.
Many people don't associate hoarseness with lung problems at first, and may even drag off for the test, thinking they'll get better in a few days. However, hoarseness caused by lung cancer is a long-standing symptom that does not get better on its own and can get worse over time.
Hoarseness, while common, can hide complex issues behind it. If a tumor in the lungs affects the nerves of the vocal cords, it often means that the tumor has progressed to a certain extent. At this time, the hoarseness of the voice is not just a simple symptom, but more like a silent "cry for help" from the body. It's a reminder that your lungs may be going through some kind of change, and that change may be much more severe than you think.
In daily life, many people don't pay much attention to the changes in their voices, and always feel that it is not a big deal to have a hoarse voice, and some people even think that it is caused by fatigue or talking too much.
But in fact, hoarseness caused by lung cancer is completely different from ordinary voice problems. It may not be accompanied by significant pain or other symptoms, but because of this, it is easier to ignore.
epilogue
Lung cancer is more than just a cough, and if you find yourself with these symptoms, it's important to get your lungs checked as early as possible, as they can be a precursor to cancer. Rather than letting the condition worsen unconsciously, it is better to take timely action when an abnormality is detected, which can not only improve the quality of life, but also protect your health.
The early symptoms of lung cancer, although insidious, are not undetectable. Through the analysis of this article, we understand that every small change in the body can be a distress signal to you. Don't let these signals go unnoticed, pay attention to abnormal manifestations of the body in time, and have regular physical examinations, which are all important means to prevent diseases.
References:
Lung cancer is not just a cough, if you have these 4 manifestations, check the lungs as soon as possible, it may be a precursor to cancer
2023-09-27 Yishui release
Lung cancer is not just a cough, and doctors warn that if there are these 4 manifestations, it is likely to be a precursor to cancer
2023-10-27 Dr. Chua's Health Talks