Smoke? Pay attention to this!
When should you see a pulmonologist?
Above all, if you have been smoking for a long time. According to experts, 10 so-called "package years" is considered a quantity that justifies us to undergo regular medical examinations. This means as many cigarettes as we would smoke in 10 years if the daily dose is 1 pack. So if, for example, someone smokes 2 packs a day, it is reasonable to consult a specialist even after 5 years. There are two main threats to smokers: lung cancer and the chronic disease known as COPD, which is associated with a chronic cough and shortness of breath when exercising.
Why should these two diseases be screened for?
In the initial stage, none of them cause complaints. COPD is a condition that develops extremely slowly and insidiously, and smokers often explain premature suffocation by their age or weight gain. This can even be imagined, but the exact cause can only be revealed by objective tests. It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible, because if we let this serious, continuously progressing disease develop, it cannot be reversed! However, if we recognize it in time, we can do something about it, we can prevent the disease from escalating to severe respiratory disability.
The other common threat, lung cancer, only shows itself when, for example, it reaches the pleura and already causes pain. In such cases, however, there is usually no chance of performing a surgery that means a permanent cure. If the tumor grows near a bronchus and invades the bronchus, it can cause persistent coughing and spitting up blood. Patients usually consult a doctor only then, but it is also possible that a very advanced lung cancer remains symptom-free.
It is a long-standing experience that a much larger number of lung cancers detected in asymptomatic patients can be operated on! Today, an X-ray technique is available that can reliably detect incipient and thus operable cancer. It is also worth bearing in mind that even if someone quits smoking, the risk of lung cancer does not disappear, at most it decreases!
Apart from this, smoking can also have other physiological effects: we must not forget about damage to the cardiovascular system, which can also have serious consequences.
If you would like to have yourself examined, feel free to contact our pulmonologists: