Health: have you been coughing for three weeks?

12:51pm Wednesday 9th may 2012 in North of England news

throughout may and June the Lancashire and South Cumbria Cancer Network is supporting the national Be Clear on Cancer campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of lung cancer across the region.

The key message is that finding lung cancer early makes it more treatable and it encourages people who have symptoms to go to their doctor straight away.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in England. There are some 33,000 new cases every year and it kills more men and women than any other form of cancer. It affects people of all ages but is most common in those who are over 50. One in eight people with lung cancer has never smoked but it is more common in smokers and in those who smoke sheesha through a hookah. Many hookah smokers may consider this practice less harmful than smoking cigarettes; however hookah smoking carries many of the same health risks as cigarettes. The risk of lung cancer gets worse as you get older, but finding it early improves the chances of successful treatment. So if you have had a cough for three weeks or more, it’s worth visiting your doctor to be on the safe side.

You need to see a doctor straight away if you have been coughing for the past three weeks or more. other symptoms of lung cancer include: A cough that has got worse or changes;Repeated chest infections; Coughing up blood; Breathlessness; Feeling more tired than usual for some time; Losing weight for no obvious reason; an ache or pain in your chest or shoulder that has lasted some time.

if you notice any of these symptoms, tell your doctor right away. Detecting lung cancer early makes it easier to treat, so seeing your doctor quickly may save your life. It’s probably nothing serious but it could also be a sign of something else that needs treatment.

Please don’t ignore the symptoms or put off a trip to the doctor. It can make the world of difference and you won’t be wasting anyone’s time. And if you know anyone who has any of these symptoms, insist they see their doctor. Again, it’s probably nothing serious, but they should get it checked out.

Ernie Burton, Aged 62 from Blackburn was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2010 after he noticed he had been coughing for over three weeks. Following chemotherapy and surgery Ernie has now given up smoking and is living each day to the full. he said ‘I would urge anyone experiencing any of the symptoms of lung cancer to go and see their doctor straight away, do not think you are wasting their time and try not to be scared. I thank my wife for making me go to my doctor when I did as I know I would have probably put it off for a bit longer otherwise’.

Doctor Fawad Zaman Lead Lung Cancer Clinician at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust commented on the campaign: “I thoroughly support the Be Clear on Lung Cancer campaign as it will play a vital role in raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of lung cancer and will ultimately save lives. I would urge anyone who has been coughing for three weeks or more or is experiencing any of the other symptoms described to speak to their GP straight away. The message is clear – the earlier cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat. Your symptoms may be nothing serious, but it is better to have them checked out early to be sure.”

if you need to find your doctor’s contact details or need more information on lung cancer please visit: nhs.uk/lungcancer.

For more local support and guidance please visit the Lancashire and South Cumbria website: cancerlancashire.org.uk or cancercumbria.org.uk.

I had cold like symptoms about 3 weeks ago, and now I'm left with grouchy me, constant body pain and incredible chest congestion thats greenish.

H1N1 is not the stomach flu. It is a strain of influenza aka the flu that is mostly respiratory symptoms, body aches, fever. for example….fever, aching, harsh cough, headache

AT least 30% to 40% of people with AIDS in the world also have tuberculosis, the most common opportunistic disease also to infect people whose immunise system has been compromised or destroyed by AIDS.  AIDS opens the door and TB walks through.South Africa and Swaziland have the world’s highest TB prevalence rate, and for this reason alone people here should become more aware of the disease.  unlike HIV infection, which for the most part is contracted only through unprotected sex, TB is only a sneeze away.  When someone who is sick with TB coughs or sneezes, they can infect others.When people suffering from active pulmonary TB cough, sneeze, speak, sing or spit, they expel infectious (and so small as to be invisible to the naked eye) aerosol droplets. a single sneeze can release up to 40 000 droplets.  each one of these droplets may transmit the disease, since the infectious dose of tuberculosis is very low and inhaling fewer than ten bacteria may cause an infection.TreatedAIDS has no cure.  TB can be treated.  But the best plan is to avoid TB entirely.  This would require more thorough TB testing of the population, and putting TB patients on treatment immediately.  TB patients would have to do their part to prevent the spread of the disease by covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze as well as avoid close contact with people while their TB is active.  TB travels through the air on droplets projected when a TB person speaks, sneezes or coughs, so common sense regarding these activities (yes, even singing can spread TB!) should be practised.TB patients are sometimes isolated from the rest of the population to reduce the risk of the disease’s spread.  This was one reason why Swaziland’s new TB hospital was considered essential in a country with such a high TB prevalence rate.TB usually attacks the lungs of infected people, but can also infect other parts of the body.  Most times a person newly infected with TB will not know it, because the disease at first is “latent,” without any symptoms.  However, if TB is not identified, it will become an active disease which, if left untreated, kills more than half of the people it “attacks.”those symptoms, as reported in last week’s column, resemble those of a very severe flu: heavy and persistent (chronic) cough, sometimes producing blood in the sputum, fever, night sweats and weight loss.as said before, treatment is available.  But it is long because TB treatment requires long-term consumption of several types of antibiotics.  Of course, newer strains of multiple drug resistant TB are making conventional treatment difficult. This is bad news, because already an astonishing one-third of the world’s population is believed to be infected by TB, with a new infection striking every second.  it is important to note that the world’s infection rate is stable – a certain percentage of people (as said before over a third of the world’s population) is infected, and this is not rising.  However, the world’s population is rising, so there are actually more people with TB.TB is more prevalent in developing countries like South Africa and Swaziland than in the developed world, where TB cases are usually associated with people living with AIDS.  while TB is the most prevalent disease infected Swazis living with HIV and AIDS, it is also infecting HIV-negative people amongst the general population to such a degree that even if there was no AIDS in the country TB would remain the top public health threat.80% of the populations of Asia and Africa test positive for TB.  in the United States, 5% to 10% of the population tests positive for TB, although that number is alarming to U.S. health officials.in the U.S., TB mostly infects older adults.  in Africa, however, TB mostly infects children in their teens (adolescents) and young adults.one important fact we must remember in Swaziland is that people who are in frequent contact with TB patients are more at risk of acquiring the disease.  People who have intense or intimate contact with TB patients are at risk.  People who have frequent contact with TB patients are at risk.  These factors account for the spread of the disease in Swaziland, even amongst the HIV-negative population.Poverty is an underlying contributor to the spread of TB.  Living quarters in Swaziland are often intimate as people share rooms, even beds, and often rooms are not well ventilated.  Unaware that a sneeze or cough from a TB patient is not the same as a sneeze or cough from someone with a simple head cold (although any sneeze or cough should be avoided by others and suppressed by the person sneezing or coughing), some people do not take simple precautions.  one study found that people with prolonged, frequent or intense contact with TB patients are at particularly high risk of becoming infected, and amongst this group it is estimated that more than one in five (22%) become infected with TB. Caretakers of people living with HIV and AIDS who suffer from TB as well are at risk, and should take precautions and be tested for TB.Health care workers in general, particularly in Swaziland, are also at risk.HIV-positive people are at risk, and should be tested for TB at the first sign of symptoms, or even as a precaution.ContributesSmoking also contributes to TB infection.  Smoking 20 or more cigarettes a day makes the smoker two to four times more likely to become infected with TB.  Smoking destroys lung tissues, and makes the organ more susceptible to diseases like TB and cancer.  Finally, a person in jail is more likely to become infected with TB than someone in another environment.  one study found: “Prisoners, especially in poor countries, are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and TB.  Prisons provide conditions that allow TB to spread rapidly, due to overcrowding, poor nutrition and a lack of health services.  Since the early 1990s, TB outbreaks have been reported in prisons in many countries in Eastern Europe.  the prevalence of TB in prisons is much higher than among the general population – in some countries as much as 40 times higher.” 

How long do the symptoms last. I have this and have been on antibiotics for a week and I am getting worse. I have started to run a fever and I have chills and now I am coughing up things.

Ok, i can tell you that prostatitis cna be divided into two types,Chronic and acute.If it is acute ,aome antibiotics can treat it.While if it is acute, it may be hard.So you should know taking antibiotics will cost a large pennies to your body,it has side effect.It also cna produce drug resistance and no actual effect.you can try to go to hospital for operation or choose other med.Diureitc anti-inflammatory pill is a right choice.It has cured my aunt .you can try.

Time to take yourself back to the Dr. Antibiotics for a week should have greatly improved your symptoms and have not. Chills and fevers are also signs hat you are not getting better. The cough may be unrelated but at the same time just coincidental you may have picked up a respiratory bug. Your dr. is the only one who can tell for sure.

It is really that you have go back to the doctors and have a check , prostatitis is caused by bacteria and you will suffer from more complications if you leave it untreated , the Diuretic and anti-inflammatory pill can help you to cure your prostatitis , your fever and chills are all the symptoms of prostatitis , you have to get the treatment as soon as you can . Please do not waste time on taking antibiotics , that does not work for your prostatitis. Go back to the doc and seek some good drug to use , the herbs are the good selections, you can use the google search engine to get more related information .

I want to know because my parents keep saying that i might have swine flu but i don't think i have it because all i have is a red throat. I've had it for three days and its starting to subside alittle bit. I just wanna know if its possible to only have one symptom and still have it.

It is UNLIKELY. the CDC – that is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – say the following are the symptoms of H1N1 ("swine") flu:

The symptoms of 2009 H1N1 flu virus in people include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may be infected with the flu, including 2009 H1N1 and have respiratory symptoms without a fever. Severe illnesses and deaths have occurred as a result of illness associated with this virus.

no you just have strept throat, dont worry!!!! but u can go to the doctor and they will give u penicillin or antibiotics,or take matters into your own hands and invest in chliroseptic

No, but you could have a cold, post-nasal drip, step, or other things.

The symptoms of swine flu are a sudden fever (a high body temperature of 38°C/100.4°F or above), and a sudden cough. you also may have: headache, tiredness, chills, aching muscles, limb or joint pain, diarrhea or stomach upset, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, or loss of appetite.

What you most likely been suffering from is a mild case of tonsilitis. with no other symptoms and if the swine flu had not come to be this year what would they think it was without swine flu to blame it on? Everyone is going overboard about swine flu right now. If you have the symptoms then I could see there concern, but this is not swine flu. please have your parents go to webmd.com and look up swine flu for themselves. Then they can see the symptoms and be happy that you don't have it. good luck and God Bless

I had a sore throat a few weeks ago they told me it was the regular flu. Don't get worried,everybody is going crazy if they just have 1 or 2 symptoms

You might have a viral throat infection. but go to th edr.

"could I have swine flu if i just have a sore throat and no other symptoms?" — It's very doubtful. a sore throat is a symptom shared by several conditions. Why would your parents focus on swine flu in particular?

I just read that……stuff….. posted by "js159". there is not one word of truth to it.

you probably ate some bad spinach … no worries …best be safe and get something to prevent it… what you need to do is find an old gypsy woman who will trade goods with you… bring a jar of canned hams and trade it for a vile of unicorns blood … take that vile and mix it with 3/4 cup of vinegar and a tablespoon of NyQuil … microwave on high for 2 1/2 to 3 min…rotate… then microwave for an additional 30 sec to 1 min… then let stand for 2 min… stir …then take the mixture and rub it on your belly once every 3 hours for 7 days… then call your doctor if symptoms persist…

I have a really painful throat and cough. My throat feels dry and my voice is going. I also have a lot of phlegm. But no other cold or flu symptoms. I feel tired and my back is sore but that's it. What could it be? I'm working 12 hour shifts so unable to get to dr and hate going for silly things like coughs.

Like it or not, sickness often infects you and your friends. if a handful of people you know have the flu, chances are pretty high that you’ll come down with it too. it was inevitable, then, for the social side of illness tracking to make its way onto the Internet.

The most obvious manifestation of social sickness tracking can be seen with Sickweather, a new startup that mines data from Twitter, Facebook, and user input to show which illnesses are going around in your local area–and in your friend group. the service explains, “just as Doppler radar scans the skies for indicators of bad weather, Sickweather scans social networks for indicators of illness.”

Eventually, Sickweather hopes to track symptom keywords (i.e. “runny nose,” and “cough”), but for now it’s focusing on simpler terms like “pneumonia” and bronchitis.” Illnesses are shown on a map, and in future versions, users will be able to track sicknesses via cell phone (new alert: stay away from Sarah, she’s super germy!).

Social sickness tracking can also be seen with Google’s Dengue Trends, a tracking tool for dengue feveroutbreaks that mines web search results from Brazil, Bolivia, India, Indonesia and Singapore to generate an early-warning system for outbreaks. Users won’t be able to see who exactly is searching for dengue fever symptoms, but they will know when an outbreak is headed their way. Google’s Flu Trends performs a similar purpose–and is probably more useful for people outside of dengue-heavy countries.

We can probably expect to see more initiatives like this in the future. Scientists recently discovered, for example, that weather forecasts can predict cholera outbreaks. so in the future, Google (or a service like HealthMap) could mash up weather predictions with symptom reports in cholera-prone areas for another kind of early warning system.

For now, though, tracking illness outbreaks via sites like Sickweather may be the simplest way to make sure you avoid coming down with a cold–or something worse.

[Image by Flickr user Svenstorm]

Reach Ariel Schwartz via Twitter or email.

My friend has been diagnosed with tuberculosis of lymph nodes after having FNAC for neck swelling though he never had any symptoms like cough, fever, etc. he has to take 4 medications for 6 months.

there are specific side effects with specific drugs.. what are the medications?

Summary: Sinus infection symptoms are usually pretty classic.  You should always consult with your doctor though to make sure.  Antibiotics are generally effective short-term but of little help in preventing chronic sinus infections.

Dear Curtis: I’m wondering if these are sinus infection symptoms: I have pain above my eyes with a clear nasal discharge.  I have had a cold for about a week and while the cough is getting better the headache remains.  and it’s BAD.  It’s hard to even go to work.

First of all let me say…I’m sorry!

Having a sinus infection is a miserable experience.  particularly one you’ve had for any length of time.  and I know from personal experience.

I had never had a sinus infection before so when I finally got one it took me by surprise.  It went on for weeks.  I had extreme head pain.  was sensitive to light and if I blew my nose just perfectly I could hear (and feel) a little ‘release’ in my nose.  It almost sounded like a slow, high pitched tire leak.

That would give me a little bit of relief but then it would build back up and I was to square one.

Eventually, with the help of a same day care doctor I discovered that I did indeed have a “raging” sinus infection (in his words).  but, enough about me.

With what you are telling me it’s frankly, hard to say if it is a sinus infection.  but, with the general symptoms you are listing there is a good chance it’s a sinus infection.  also, because you said you had a cold it makes me think it’s a sinus infection as they often follow a cold or a flu infection.

But, to help you (and your doctor) let’s ask a few more questions and look at a true sinus infection in a little more detail.

Acute vs. Chronic Symptoms

From what you’re describing you appear to be in the acute phase since it has been occurring less than 4 weeks.  A chronic sinus infection would run out past eight weeks.

Sinus Location

Also, you have more than just one ‘sinus’ – as the name confusingly implies.  the area that you are describing, above your eyes, is very commonly affected.  but, without getting into too many specifics lets just focus on some of the more common symptoms that you might experience with a sinus infection and that way it will give you a better idea of your next course of action.

Common General Symptoms

While the following tend to be seen in most sinus infections they may not all be present at the same time.

• Nasal discharge:  Because sinus infections often follow colds or flu’s nasal discharge can be common and actually thicken and become worse over time.
• Chronic Dry Cough
• Pressure in the face
• Teeth pressure (particularly as you bend over)
• Pain around the eyes (especially if a child has a sinus infection)
• Bad breath
• Post nasal drip (where nose discharge literally drips back into your throat causing you to clear your throat constantly)
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Lack of response to antihistamines or decongestants

Sinus Infection Treatment

I’m pretty confident that your doctor will likely conclude that you do have a sinus infection and will likely prescribe you some antibiotics to treat it like Amoxicillin.

Now, while antibiotics will likely bring you relief in my experience they aren’t a long term solution because they aren’t fixing the actual cause.

Without getting into too much detail your sinuses are basically air filled pockets in your skull.  and, as you learned above, with the right conditions (say a cold or a flu) they can become inhabited with bacteria, fungus or viruses.  They set up camp in your sinuses and make you miserable.

So, while treating the actual bug that is causing the sinus infection is helpful, unless you control your overall health and keep the sinuses clear you may likely have a reinfection with your next cold.  That’s why the most helpful thing for me to prevent (and even treat a mild sinus infection) has been sinus irrigation.

It keeps your sinuses flushed out and makes it difficult for bacteria or other bugs to call it home.  plus, it’s extremely safe and approved by a lot of ear, nose and throat doctors.  but, just to make sure, discuss it with your doctor.

I’m a big fan because it helped me when prescription medications couldn’t.  That’s why when I feel a cold coming on now I immediately start irrigating my sinuses.

I have excersize induced asthma, but I am very athletic. I already take an inhaler before I excersize, but I still have symptoms. I have had allergy tests that say I'm not allergic to anything, and I have tried other asthma medications, but it still effects my athletic performance in soccer and cross country. I would like to try alternatives to over the counter medications. Any help would be much appreciated!

Chinese medicine treatment
Traditional medicine: Lord of the lung for gas, the kidney is the root of gas. When the asthma attack, pulmonary channel is not the main gas, kidney can not be satisfied that the gas, the gas against the last, and made the Chuanji. Spleen as the source of biochemical, spleen phlegm, phlegm airway, so see cough, shortness of breath. Thus, asthma is the kidney, lung, spleen, three imaginary of the disease. Chinese medicine treatment of bronchial asthma by the state into the Spark Program "heterophylla cough and asthma. " Indications herbs: heterophylla, Cordyceps sinensis, Zhejiang Fritillaria, Trichosanthes, betel nut, Baiji, licorice and so on. Life note: avoid tobacco, alcohol and spicy, cold, greasy food.