Asthma is a common long-term condition that can affect people of all ages. It causes inflammation (swelling) in the airways, which can sometimes make it difficult to breathe.
Symptoms of asthma include:
- Runny nose and eyes
- Wheeze
- Tight chest
- Cough
- Being short of breath
- Sneezing
Breathing in substances at work can also affect the lining of the nose, causing sneezing and a runny or blocked nose. This is called rhinitis, and can be an early warning sign of work-related asthma.
Your healthcare professional will be able to give you more information about asthma.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a long-term condition that causes inflammation (swelling) in the lungs, damaged lung tissue and a narrowing of the airways, making breathing difficult.
Symptoms of COPD include:
- Having a cough that does not go away – you may also cough up phlegm
- Wheeze
- Tight chest
- Weight loss
- Being short of breath
- Being very tired
Your healthcare professional will be able to give you more information about COPD.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that starts in the covering of the lungs (pleura) and is caused by exposure to asbestos.
Symptoms of mesothelioma include:
- Being short of breath
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Losing weight for no reason
- Not feeling hungry
- Being very tired
- Clubbing (swelling) of the fingers
Your healthcare professional will be able to give you more information about mesothelioma.
Lung cancer is a cancer of the trachea (windpipe), bronchi (airways) or lung air sacs (alveoli).
Symptoms of lung cancer include:
- Having a cough that does not go away
- Coughing up blood, or flecks of blood, in phlegm
- Weight loss
- Being out of breath
- Not feeling hungry
- Being very tired
- Pain in the chest
- Pain in the bones
- Pain in the shoulder
- Swelling in the neck
- Muscle weakness
- Hoarseness (weak, raspy or strained voice)
- Stridor (high pitched wheezing due to a blockage in the airway)
- Clubbing (swelling) of the fingers and toes
Your healthcare professional will be able to give you more information about lung cancer.
Asbestosis is a lung condition caused by breathing in asbestos over long periods of time.
Symptoms of asbestosis include:
- Being short of breath
- Cough
- Wheeze
- Being very tired
- Pain in the chest
- Swollen fingertips
Your healthcare professional will be able to give you more information about asbestosis.