Cancer is the scourge of our time. Malignant formations, which can occur only at the last (incurable) stage of the disease, lead to human death. One of the most common neoplasms is carcinoma - lung cancer. The worst thing is that oncology can overtake everyone, most often men over 50 become susceptible.
Lung cancer: the first signs
One of the main symptoms is a cough for lung cancer. This symptomatic symptom is a reflex process. It occurs as a result of increased intrathoracic pressure and reduced respiratory muscles. The main feature is that the airways are cleaned of foreign substances, this is a kind of structural changes in the tissues and cells of the lungs.
Coughing as a phenomenon is not an accurate symptom of lung cancer. A number of additional features must be considered:
- by the frequency of coughing;
- by force;
- by frequency;
- by sonority;
- by soreness;
- amount of sputum followed;
- by timbre.
Severe cough with lung cancer is regular, and the general health of the patient is worsening.
Coughing processes occur for the following reasons:
- due to a decrease in the usable area of the bronchi;
- due to an increase in tumor formations on the diaphragm, pleura sheets;
- with compression by the lymph nodes (enlarged) of the bronchi;
- with accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity;
- with inflammation of the bronchial mucosa.
As an accompanying symptom, increased shortness of breath occurs, which makes it difficult to breathe.
Among the external signs should indicate the following:
- pale gray skin of the face;
- enlarged lymph nodes on the clavicle and in the armpits;
- the upper body is constantly swelling;
- veins in the chest area become wider.
Perhaps the manifestation of Horner's syndrome.
Stages of lung cancer
Bronchogenic cancer can be determined by three types:
- small cell;
- easy;
- not small cell.
Differences in these etiological signs of the affected areas in men and women are not observed. Lung cancer can exist in the form of tumor formations, which is not even determined by x-ray scanning.
In oncology, it is customary to qualify lung cancer according to several stages of development:
- Stage 1: malignancy does not exceed the size of 3-4 cm. There are no metastases. The first symptomatic signs: headache, general ailment, cough, decreased appetite, unstable body temperature.
- Stage 2: isolated cases manifestation of metastases in the pulmonary zones and lymph nodes. The size of the neoplasm is about 6 cm. Typical symptoms: difficulty breathing, hemoptysis, chest pain, wheezing.
- Stage 3: the tumor is more than 6 cm, passes to the second lobe of the lung, neighboring bronchus. Metastases pass to other organs of the respiratory system. Symptoms: pain when swallowing, shortness of breath, shortness of breath, cough with lung cancer with pus and blood.
- Stage 4: metastases, tumor growth, damage to the pleural cavity that surrounds the lung. Characteristic symptoms: severe chest pain, cough with blood and pus, severe weight loss, shortness of breath.
An alarming “bell” should be a high body temperature - about 38 º, constant urge to cough. Any antipyretic does not cope with its task.
Causes of Oncology
Doctors point out several versions that cause the formation of cancer cells, as well as causal factors that depend on the person himself. So, the reasons for the appearance of a tumor in the lungs, independent of a person, include:
- genetic predisposition to cancer;
- with chronic diseases of the respiratory system;
- disruption of the endocrine system;
- with age-related changes in the body.
Factors that depend on the person should also be indicated:
- smoking;
- negligence in relation to one's own health;
- polluted environment;
- professional activity;
- chronic lung diseases: pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc.
The main modifier for lung cancer is smoking. When burned out, tobacco smoke contains 4,000 different types of toxic carcinogenic components. They settle on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, thereby destroying healthy cells. Chemical compounds are extremely dangerous. They gradually accumulate, forming a liquid (externally resembling oil), and fall on the porous structure of the lungs.
Types of cough
There are several varieties of cough that characterizes a disease such as lung cancer. What cough with lung cancer happens, consider in more detail:
- Short cough is a special type of cough, accompanied by a strong rapid contraction of the abdominal muscles. With this cough, internal pressure on the airways increases, trachea decreases.
- A short cough is repeated regularly. Its speed is equal to the speed of light. This type of cough is a sign of an initial symptom of cancer.
Intense manifestation
Lung cancer: a strong cough is persistent convulsive. Usually it occurs at night, as an additional sign - a kind of convulsions of the respiratory tract. The coughing is continuous, and after that there are loud and long breaths.
Attacks of this type of cough are regularly repeated and may be aggravated by vomiting. A serious complication is fainting (loss of consciousness), as a result of which the rhythm of the heart is disturbed.
Dry cough
Dry cough for lung cancer is the main symptom. It is continuous, hoarse and slightly muffled. Sometimes a dry cough for lung cancer can be completely silent. This type of cough is a signal that changes in the structure of the cells of the respiratory tract occur. Gradually, a dry cough becomes painful and severe.
Moist cough
A wet cough for lung cancer is determined by the fact that there may be significant sputum discharge. There is an increase in the secretory work of the surface of the bronchi.
Usually this process occurs in the morning or at night, when clots of sputum are collected in the cavity of the bronchi. With lung cancer, cough with sputum can say a lot. It is necessary to first determine the consistency of sputum: with / without blood and what color.
Bloody
Coughing up blood in lung cancer is a clear sign of cancer in the respiratory tract. Blood veins are bright scarlet in the form of viscous mucus. After a strong cough, shortness of breath is observed. Bloody discharge is the course of the inflammatory process in the organs of the respiratory system, which means increased intrapulmonary pressure. During a coughing fit, chest pain is observed.
No obvious symptoms
Lung cancer without coughing and fever can occur in a peripheral form of pathology. Such a symptomatic manifestation of oncology significantly complicates medical diagnosis and, accordingly, treatment.
How to relieve cough in lung cancer?
Coughing can be alleviated by any means that eliminate the causes of its occurrence, namely:
- Proceed to the treatment of the inflammatory process in the organs of the respiratory system.
- Improve the circulation of fresh air, moistening can occur due to special devices.
- The brain department is “forced” to not respond to the manifestation of irritation: a relaxation method, breathing control exercises. Psycho-emotional discharge will also be useful: listening to music, walking in the fresh air, etc.
- With the accumulation of pathological fluid in the cavity of the respiratory organs, remove it, which will greatly facilitate coughing.
- Stop smoking and inhaled smoke completely.
- Strengthen the immune system and “acquire” the body's defenses with the help of special medicines (phytocomponents).
- A comfortable body position when coughing - sitting. Do not lay the patient in a horizontal position during a coughing fit.
- Remove annoying odors in the room in which the patient is.
It is impossible to get rid of coughing attacks on the background of ongoing cancer. But to alleviate the suffering of the patient is a feasible task.
Lung cancer: cough treatment
The choice of a specific treatment for lung cancer should be based on the severity of the disease. Treatment is effective only in the early stages of the oncological process in the lungs.
Drug treatment is practically no different from cough treatment for bronchitis. It is important to eliminate sputum and affect the bronchi. Cough in lung cancer is treated with expectorants and thinners. Among the pharmacological medicines distinguish:
- "Mukaltin" - a drug that has an expectorant effect. It is based on the extract of the root of the medicinal marshmallow.
- Pertussin. The composition of the drug contains components of plant and synthetic effects. The active substance is thyme extract and potassium bromide.
- "Prospan" has an antispasmodic and antimicrobial effect, and also removes sputum viscosity from the bronchi.
- "Mucosolvan" increases the secretion of mucus in the respiratory tract.
- Flavamed is a therapeutic drug that helps to reduce sputum and activates the epithelium of the bronchi.
The above medications are designed to eliminate sputum. However, with lung cancer, there is also a dry cough. Antitussive drugs that help alleviate the condition of the patient:
- "Broncholitin" is a drug that has a bronchoantiseptic effect. The composition includes basil oil, so the tool has anesthetic effect.
- "Pakseladin" - the drug has a direct effect on the cough center and normalizes breathing.
- "Stoptussin" - a drug that has an expectorant effect and antitussive. The cough center under the influence of the drug weakens due to anesthesia of the nerve endings of the bronchi.
It should be remembered that you can not take medications at the same time expectorant and antitussive actions. Otherwise, pneumonia can be provoked, which will worsen the condition of the patient.
Folk remedies for cough in lung cancer are also known. However, before proceeding with them, it is necessary to consult with your doctor. It is impossible to cure lung cancer only by folk methods. Traditional therapy has a deterrent effect on the spread of oncology. Folk remedies can only give an additional beneficial effect and can be used as concomitant treatment.
As a prevention of lung cancer, doctors recommend quitting smoking once and for all. And patients with oncology of the respiratory tract are recommended to follow a special diet and resort to medications as a treatment. Only strict adherence to medical prescriptions will help stop the spread of cancers.