可能不止咳嗽那麼簡單大綱

We're all used to hearing people cough from time to time, but have you, or someone you know, had a cough that's lasted for three weeks or more? Or are you noticing yourself or others getting out of breath doing everyday tasks, like vacuuming or climbing a short flight of stairs? Both a persistent cough or getting out of breath could be signs of lung cancer or other lung disease. Breathlessness can also be a sign of heart disease. Either symptom needs to be checked out by the GP.

我們已經習慣了偶爾聽到別人咳嗽，但你或你認識的人有沒有連續三週（或更久）一直在咳嗽呢？亦或是你注意到自己或別人在做每天都做的事情（比如吸塵打掃或爬幾級臺階）時喘不上氣？一直咳嗽或喘不上氣都有可能是肺癌或其它肺疾病的跡象。喘不上氣也有可能是心臟病的跡象。無論是何種症狀，你都需要去看全科醫生。

You can make a huge difference by encouraging friends or family who have these symptoms to see their GP, it could be the nudge they need which could save their life. Getting help early, rather than putting it off to see if the symptom gets worse, is vital. A visit to the GP to get checked out won't be a waste of time - the doctor wants to see people who experience these symptoms.

鼓勵有上述症狀的朋友或家人去看醫生，你就可以讓他們的生活發生重大變化。可能這正是他們所需要的挽救生命的鼓勵。不要一直拖到症狀惡化，早點治療至關重要。看醫生、做檢查不會浪費你的時間--醫生希望看到有這些症狀的人去找他。

So, if someone close to you has been coughing for a while, ask them how long it's been going on. Or if people around you are avoiding doing tasks they used to be able to do, or you notice them stopping to catch their breath, when doing things like vacuuming or mowing the lawn, don't let them ignore it. For either of these symptoms, encourage them to book an appointment with their GP.

所以，如果和你關係很好的人咳嗽了一段時間，一定要問他們已經咳嗽了多久。又或者如果你身邊的人避開做那些以往有能力做的任務，又或是注意到他們在吸塵打掃或鋤草時停下來喘氣，一定要告訴他們不能掉以輕心。無論是哪種症狀，一定要鼓勵他們預約自己的全科醫生。

Symptoms to look out for:

需要注意的症狀：

Some of the symptoms of lung disease, including lung cancer, or heart disease that you should look out for in yourself or others, include:

爲了自己或他人，你需要注意的有關肺疾病，包括肺癌或心臟病的一些症狀包括：

A cough that has got worse or changes, or getting out of breath could be signs of lung cancer or other lung disease.

咳嗽惡化或發生了變化、或喘不上氣都可能是肺癌或其它肺疾病的症狀。

Frequent chest infections

胸腔總是被感染

Coughing up blood

咳出血

Chest or shoulder pain

胸痛或肩痛

Wheezing

喘息

Feeling more tired than usual for some time

有段時間覺得比平常更累

Losing weight for no obvious reason

不明所以的瘦了