People have been warned to seek medical help if a cough lasts more than three weeks. According to the NHS, this could be a telltale sign of a deadly disease that kills around 34,800 Brits every year.
Coughs are a fairly common symptom that most of us experience multiple times in our lives. It could indicate some type of seasonal illness like a cold, the flu or Covid.
Or it could be the result of hay fever, an allergy or exposure to irritants like dust or smoke. However, in some cases it could be cause for alarm.
The NHS states that a cough that does not go away after three weeks is a key symptom of lung cancer. This is the most deadly form of cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research UK, accounting for 21 percent of cancer deaths.
If you experience this symptom you should speak to your GP, the health body says. As well as a persistent and long-lasting cough, coughing up blood can also indicate the disease.
Other “main” symptoms include:
- Chest infections that keep coming back
- An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- Persistent breathlessness
- Persistent tiredness or lack of energy
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
Less common symptoms of lung cancer include:
- Changes in the appearance of your fingers, such as becoming more curved or their ends becoming larger (this is known as finger clubbing)
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) or pain when swallowing
- Wheezing
- A hoarse voice
- Swelling of your face or neck
- Persistent chest or shoulder pain
The NHS adds: “See a GP if you have symptoms of lung cancer, such as breathlessness or a persistent cough.
“The GP will ask about your general health and your symptoms. They may examine you and ask you to breathe into a device called a spirometer, which measures how much air you breathe in and out.
“You may be asked to have a blood test to rule out some of the possible causes of your symptoms, such as a chest infection.”
Smoking cigarettes is the single biggest risk factor for lung cancer. It’s responsible for more than seven out of 10 cases. Other causes of lung cancer include exposure to radon, asbestos, and coal and coke fumes among other substances.