Do you remember the last time you thought about your lungs? Undoubtedly, we can’t live without breathing, yet we often take our breathing for granted until we experience some relevant issues. Sometimes we think that it’s normal to feel difficulty in breathing during a cough, or on our morning walk, yet there can be serious underlying issues that need your immediate attention.
To help people like you who want to stay fit and diagnose and treat health issues before they arrive, here is a useful guide by expert radiologists at Border Radiology Specialists. Read on to learn some important aspects about your lung health and where to go for your lung assessment.
Why Lung Health Matters?
Our lungs are basic organs of the respiratory system. Lungs help to carry oxygen in your bloodstream and take away carbon dioxide, and thus play a vital role in the normal functioning of our body. However, with unhealthy lungs, you can feel lower energy and immunity levels and a compromised quality of life.
If not treated on time, it can lead to asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and even lung cancer. If we specifically talk about Australia, there is an increasing number of deaths by lung cancer. All these points towards the importance of having timely lung health diagnostic imaging from our professional team at Border Radiology Specialists.
Warning Signs That Show Your Lungs May Be Struggling
- Short of breath during your daily activities, like walking or climbing stairs.
- A chronic cough that you have had for a long time.
- Persistent mucus production, released by the airways of the lungs against irritants or infections.
- Wheezing or a whistling sound while breathing due to the narrowing or blockage in your lungs’ airways.
- Blood in the cough that comes from the lungs, upper respiratory, or digestive tract.
- Recurring chest pain and frequent chest infections for a long time.
Can You Check Your Lung Health at Home?
It’s always better not to take any risk and get professional lung diagnostic services. Yet, you can also do your lung assessment at home by:
- Taking a deep breath and holding it for 20–30 seconds, if you can’t hold your breath for more than this time, then there may be a lung issue.
- Notice how often you feel difficulty in breathing or have a cough.
- Using a peak flow meter to know how quickly you breathe out of your lungs.
When Should You See a Professional?
There is a higher risk of lung disease for smokers, people who live in polluted areas, and those who have a family history of lung ailments. That’s why, if you are experiencing any consistent warning signs as described above, don’t wait to contact a healthcare provider or have a chest X-ray and CT scans from skilled radiologists to help detect lung conditions early. With timely scans, you can quickly examine your lungs without any surgical procedure.
How Chest Imaging Helps Diagnose Lung Issues?
For those who want a lung assessment for any underlying problem, chest imaging or scanning is a great way. It helps to show infections like pneumonia, signs of lung cancer, and chronic conditions Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), before they worsen.
Useful Tips to Avoid Lung Disease
- Don’t smoke and avoid secondhand tobacco smoke.
- Do exercise and have a balanced diet to maintain a healthy weight.
- Avoid going out in heavy, polluted places.
- Make well-ventilated home and office spaces.
- Use respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to avoid inhaling dust, vapours, harmful gases, and fumes.
- Have regular lung examination check-ups.
Contact Border Radiology Specialists For a Reliable Lung Assessment!
At Border Radiology Specialists, our experienced and trained radiologists and technicians strive for a healthy you. That’s why we use the latest technology for scanning to offer you fast, accurate scans within 24 hours. We love to provide you with compassionate care, comprehensive radiology services like CT scan, OPG, ultrasound, and more.
If you also reside in Albury and are looking for a lung scan near you, then feel free to contact us now. We will help you book a convenient appointment and ensure you breathe easier with our care and support.
FAQs
- Can black lungs turn pink again?
Black lungs due to smoking or inhaling polluted air cannot totally recover and become pink again. Yet, avoiding smoking and air pollution and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can improve lung health and function.
- Is it worth getting a lung scan?
Yes, imaging or scanning of the lungs can help to diagnose quietly developing serious lung diseases. However, it’s advisable to have a lung scan after discussing your health history with a healthcare provider so that they can offer you safe, low-dose CT scans for lung screening.
- Do allergies harm the lungs?
People with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can find allergies problematic. If you face such airway diseases of the lungs, you must avoid allergens and take anti-allergy medications to lessen the impact on the lungs.
- How long does a lung scan take?
Generally, a lung scan does not take more than 30 minutes. Having a lung scan will not disturb your schedule, and you can quickly go home after lung imaging.