What are the Signs you Need a Lung Doctor
A lung doctor is the specialist you see when you get breathing, coughing or chest symptoms that just don’t to get better. Read more about these specialists here: https://www.icts.com.sg/reasons-why-you-would-be-referred-to-a-thoracic-surgeon/.
Since many lung problems start slowly, they can easily be missed at a GP visit. This is where seeing a lung doctor comes in.
If you can schedule an appointment with your lung doctor on time, you have the best chance of receiving clearer tests and a focused plan, so you don’t wait until things worsen. Your GP may send you to a lung doctor if they’ve tried standard care for you and it does not clear your symptoms. Or, if the tests you’ve had look abnormal.
How do I Know my Lungs are not Ok?
It is easy to miss getting the right care if you do not know the symptoms to look for as far as the health of your lungs is concerned. So, how do people know when their lungs are not Ok? Here are some symptoms to pay attention to;
- Persistent cough: A cough that lasts more than eight weeks in adults is one of the clearest signs that your lungs are not ok. The cough can come from asthma, chronic bronchitis, acid reflux, or, less commonly, lung cancer. If simple treatments and antibiotics don’t stop it, see a lung doctor for tests such as spirometry and imaging to find the cause.
- New or worsening breathlessness: If you tire easily when walking or become short of breath at rest, don’t ignore it. Asthma, COPD, heart disease, blood clots, or scarring of lung tissue can cause breathlessness. Sudden severe breathlessness is an emergency. Still, milder but rising shortness of breath needs timely specialist review.
- Chronic wheeze or noisy breathing: Wheeze is a high-pitched sound when you breathe out and often means airway narrowing. It commonly points to asthma or COPD, but can also come from other airway problems. If you report chronic wheeze, a lung doctor will check your lung function and may change or start inhaler treatment to ease your symptoms.
- Recurrent chest infections: Multiple chest infections in a year suggest an underlying problem. The infections can indicate issues such as bronchiectasis, reduced immunity, or structural changes in the airways. Repeated antibiotic courses without lasting relief should prompt you to seek a specialist for tests like sputum analysis and a CT scan. Once you know the root cause, it gets easier to lower infection risk long-term.
- Coughing up blood: Coughing up blood is medically known as haemoptysis. It is the expectoration of blood or blood-stained mucus from the lungs, bronchi, larynx, trachea, or bronchi. While it is not a disease itself, coughing up blood is a symptom that can indicate various underlying conditions. Small amounts may follow a strong cough, but blood can also indicate infection, bronchiectasis, or, rarely, a tumor.
- Chest pain linked with breathlessness: Sharp, pleuritic chest pain that worsens on deep breaths often comes from lung causes. A wide range of issues, including pleurisy, pneumonia, or a pulmonary embolism, may trigger it. Because chest pain can also be cardiac, a lung doctor cannot only help you decide the right tests but also where to get urgent care if needed.
- Persistent tiredness with cough or breathlessness: Ongoing fatigue together with breathing symptoms can mean your lungs are not delivering enough oxygen, or you have anemia or a chronic disease. With this combination, you may be recommended blood tests and lung function checks before you can begin treatment. Depending on diagnosis, you may be recommended specialised treatment to help restore energy and, most importantly, improve your breathing.
- Voice changes or persistent hoarseness: While it may seem common, a hoarse voice that doesn’t seem to improve isn’t something to ignore. A hoarse voice that does not clear after a few weeks may have come from reflux, vocal strain, or irritation in the airway. Sometimes, it comes from serious conditions that need imaging or direct inspection. Your best bet is an early assessment to rule out causes and guide treatment.
Our list above isn’t conclusive, but it should give you a rough idea of when to visit a lung doctor. We strongly recommend seeking emergency help if you have sudden, severe breathlessness, fainting or collapsing, heavy coughing of blood, blue lips or face, sudden one-leg swelling with breathlessness, or very severe chest pain.
These signs may indicate a life-threatening problem like a large blood clot, severe infection or heart event. Call emergency services. As a general rule, if you are unsure, it is safer to seek urgent care.
How do Doctors Check if your Lungs are OK?
Now that you have an idea of the signs that may warrant a visit to a lung doctor, you may also naturally wonder, How do doctors check if your lungs are OK? The first thing that your lung doctor will do to check if your lungs are OK is ask about symptoms.
They may also ask about your medical and family history of some conditions, among other issues. After that, if needed, they may recommend tests like;
- Spirometry (breathing test): Spirometry measures how much air you blow out and how fast. It helps diagnose airflow problems like asthma and COPD and shows how severe they are. The test is simple: you breathe in deeply, then blow hard into a mouthpiece several times.
- Chest X-ray: A chest X-ray gives a quick view of your lungs and heart silhouette. It can spot pneumonia, large tumours, fluid around the lungs, or a collapsed lung. The procedure is fast and available in most clinics or hospitals. If the X-ray shows anything unclear, the lung doctor will recommend further imaging.
- CT chest (high-resolution or contrast CT): CT scanning shows detailed slices of lung tissue and blood vessels. It can detect small tumors, blood clots, and interstitial lung disease that do not appear on X-rays. The scan takes only minutes but gives much more information and could be all your specialist needs to plan treatment. Contrast dye may be used if the doctor needs to see blood vessels clearly.
- Bronchoscopy: Bronchoscopy uses a thin camera passed into the airways to look directly at the bronchi and collect samples. It helps find infection, stop bleeding, or obtain tissue when imaging is unclear. The procedure is done under local anaesthetic or light sedation for comfort. It gives the lung doctor real-time views and precise biopsy samples.
- Sputum and blood tests: Sputum tests check for bacteria, T, B, and other pathogens that cause chest infections. Blood tests show markers of inflammation, check oxygen levels, and screen for autoimmune causes of lung disease. If done correctly, these tests can give a biochemical picture that supports imaging and clinical signs.
- Sleep study / overnight oximetry: A sleep test measures breathing and oxygen levels overnight when sleep apnoea is suspected. It helps explain daytime tiredness, morning headaches, or unexplained shortness of breath. Portable oximeters can show low oxygen at night, prompting full sleep testing. Treating sleep apnoea can improve breathing and heart health.
Wrapping Up
Many lung issues respond well when seen early by a lung doctor. So, do not ignore any symptom that leaves you worried about the health of your lungs. Try to act as soon as possible to give you more treatment choices and a better chance of quick improvement.
Get in touch with us today if you’re concerned about your breathing or a cough that won’t go away. To book an assessment with our lung doctor today for on-site tests, clear explanations, and a personalized plan to help you breathe easier, call or visit us at any of the locations below;
International Center for Thoracic Surgery in Singapore | Dr. Aneez