Lung problems can affect people of any age. Many people today suffer from lung trouble, and if you have smoked for many years, that too is damaging your lungs.

Some signs can tell you whether your lungs are being damaged, such as a mild pain in the chest or catching cold often. These symptoms are not good news: they could point to lung cancer or serious bronchitis. So it is important to be careful while there is still time.

Here are six signs of lung problems:

• Frequent colds and coughs. In many people a cold and cough will not go away easily. If this happens, be careful.
• Pain in the shoulders and back after waking up. In medical terms this kind of pain is called "referred pain".
• Do not ignore breathlessness. If this sign appears, there is some problem in the lungs.
• Feeling tired all the time, with anxiety and fatigue. When the lungs do not work properly the body does not get enough oxygen, which can cause tiredness.
• Has your voice changed? If this goes on day after day the problem could be more serious. In that case, see a doctor as soon as possible.
• Phlegm building up in the chest can eventually lead to severe pneumonia, which stops the lungs working properly. If this happens, you must see a doctor.

Source: Dhaka Tribune. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.