Warning-sign checks
Cystic lung disease: when to get help
Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911Seek emergency medical care for:
- Sudden or severe shortness of breath
- Sudden one-sided chest or shoulder pain
- Blue or grey lips, confusion, fainting or severe difficulty speaking
- Coughing up more than small streaks of blood
- Rapid worsening after a recent pneumothorax or chest procedure
These symptoms may indicate a pneumothorax, significant bleeding or another serious breathing problem.
Do not drive yourself if you are severely short of breath or faint.
And for anyone, someone who:
- is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Other emergency signs, for anyone
- Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
- Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
- Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
- Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
- Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
- Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
- Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointmentArrange routine medical follow-up for a persistent cough, gradually worsening breathlessness, reduced exercise tolerance or repeated chest infections.
Follow-up is also important after any pneumothorax, even if symptoms have settled.
The article also says
Mention any family history of repeated collapsed lungs, kidney cancer or Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome because it may change which tests are appropriate.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Cystic lung disease. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.