Cold, cough, sore throat are common symptoms of respiratory system diseases that are often overlooked. However, these warning signs may hide factors that can cause serious diseases in the future, leading to life-threatening dangers!
Respiratory system diseases can be divided into several groups, such as
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- Upper respiratory tract infections such as common cold, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, laryngitis
- Lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, caused by common pathogens and viruses, and nowadays tuberculosis is increasingly detected
- Diseases caused by behavior such as smoking, which may lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema) and lung cancer
- Allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, dermatitis, and urticaria
Check it out! These symptoms… may not be just ordinary illness
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- Breathing such as difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, rapid pulse, inability to eat, high fever
- Experiencing shortness of breath or worsening allergies, having breathlessness to the point of not being able to catch breath, or using medications that previously worked but symptoms do not improve. If these symptoms occur, you should see a doctor immediately
Annual health check helps detect respiratory system diseases
If a patient suspects having a respiratory system disease, the doctor will take a medical history, perform a basic physical examination, measure vital signs including blood pressure, pulse, respiration, body temperature, and blood oxygen, and may also perform X-rays, both standard X-rays and possibly CT scans. After receiving the results, a preliminary diagnosis can be made to determine further treatment.
Control weight… quit smoking to prepare strong lungs
Respiratory system diseases can be prevented by maintaining a healthy body, controlling excessive weight, and preventing infections by vaccination. But the most important thing is not to smoke because smoking causes many respiratory diseases such as respiratory system cancers, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which often require long-term treatment.
“Overweight” is more dangerous than you think
If an infection occurs in an overweight patient, the symptoms will be more severe than in a person with normal weight. Additionally, another disease related to sleep may be found in overweight people, such as snoring and obstructive sleep apnea, which causes daytime sleepiness, reduces work efficiency, and increases the risk of accidents while driving.
“Vaccines” to prevent respiratory system diseases
Vaccines related to the respiratory system include the influenza vaccine (administered once a year) and the pneumonia vaccine. Doctors recommend vaccination for the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, or those with chronic diseases.
Besides reducing the risk of respiratory diseases by not smoking, another way to reduce the risk is through regular health check-ups and annual chest X-rays. If there are important warning signs related to respiratory diseases such as coughing, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, or chest pain, you should see a doctor immediately because early detection leads to better treatment outcomes and lower costs.