Most of us don’t think much about breathing. You breathe in. You breathe out. You do it thousands of times every day without giving it a second thought. Until something changes.
Maybe you’re getting winded walking up the stairs. Perhaps you’ve developed a cough that just won’t go away. Or you’ve started wheezing even though you’ve never had asthma.
It’s tempting to blame these changes on getting older. Don’t.
As I explained in our earlier article, lung function does gradually change with age. You may have a little less breathing reserve at 70 than you did at 30.
But significant changes in your breathing shouldn’t automatically be dismissed as normal aging.
Here are seven warning signs from your lungs that deserve your attention.
1. You’re Getting More Short of Breath
This is probably the most important symptom to watch.
It’s normal to breathe harder when you’re exercising. A brisk walk uphill should make you breathe faster than sitting on the couch.
What concerns me is a change from your normal.
Maybe you used to walk around the neighborhood without stopping, but now you need to rest halfway. Perhaps one flight of stairs suddenly feels like three. Or you’re getting short of breath while dressing, showering, or doing simple household chores.
There are many possible causes.
Asthma, COPD, pneumonia, pulmonary fibrosis, blood clots in the lungs, and other lung conditions can cause breathlessness.
But don’t forget that shortness of breath isn’t always caused by the lungs. Heart problems, anemia, obesity, muscle weakness, and being badly out of shape can also contribute.
Dr. Mike’s Take: Don’t ask, “Am I as fast as I was when I was 30?” Ask, “Has my breathing changed compared with six months or a year ago?”
That’s often the more useful question.
2. You Have a Cough That Won’t Go Away
Everyone coughs occasionally.
A cold or other respiratory infection can leave you coughing for several weeks even after you’re otherwise feeling better.
But a cough that persists deserves attention, particularly if it’s new or changing.
A chronic cough can have many causes, including asthma, COPD, acid reflux, allergies, certain medications, and infections. In some cases, it can also be a warning sign of lung cancer or another serious lung condition.
That doesn’t mean a persistent cough equals cancer. Usually, there are other possible explanations. But don’t ignore a cough simply because it isn’t painful.
If it keeps hanging around, talk with your healthcare professional.
3. You Start Wheezing
Wheezing is usually a high-pitched or whistling sound when you breathe. It often occurs because air is moving through narrowed airways. Asthma is one possible cause, but it’s certainly not the only one. COPD, respiratory infections, allergic reactions, and other conditions can cause wheezing.
Some people assume you can’t develop asthma later in life. You can. Adult-onset asthma occurs, and symptoms may first appear well into adulthood.
New wheezing—especially when accompanied by shortness of breath—deserves evaluation.
And if wheezing appears suddenly along with severe difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, or signs of a serious allergic reaction, seek emergency care.
4. You’re Coughing Up Blood
This one should get your attention.
Blood in mucus can occasionally come from something relatively minor, such as irritation after severe coughing or bleeding from the nose or mouth.
But blood can also come from the lungs or airways.
Possible causes include infections, bronchitis, blood clots, and lung cancer, among others.
Don’t try to diagnose this one yourself.
If you’re coughing up blood, contact a healthcare professional promptly.
If you’re coughing up more than a small amount of blood or it occurs with significant shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or weakness, seek emergency medical care.
5. You Have Unexplained Chest Pain
Chest pain is complicated because your chest contains much more than your lungs. Your heart, lungs, ribs, muscles, esophagus, and other structures can all cause discomfort.
Some lung problems cause sharp pain that becomes worse when you take a deep breath or cough.
Pneumonia, inflammation around the lungs, a collapsed lung, and a blood clot in the lungs are among the possibilities.
But chest pain can also be a sign of a heart attack or other heart problem.
That’s why new or unexplained chest pain shouldn’t be diagnosed at home.
Severe, sudden, or persistent chest pain—especially with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, fainting, or pain spreading into the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder—requires emergency evaluation.
Don’t drive yourself to the emergency department if you think you may be having a heart attack. Call 911.
6. You Keep Getting Respiratory Infections
Everyone gets sick occasionally. But repeated bouts of bronchitis, pneumonia, or other respiratory infections may deserve a closer look.
Frequent infections can sometimes be related to underlying lung disease, problems clearing mucus, immune system problems, swallowing difficulties, or aspiration—when food, liquid, or saliva accidentally enters the airway.
This becomes particularly important if you’re experiencing other symptoms between infections, such as a chronic cough, excessive mucus, wheezing, or persistent shortness of breath.
One pneumonia doesn’t necessarily mean there’s an underlying lung problem. Repeated infections are different.
That’s a pattern worth discussing with your healthcare professional.
7. Your Lips or Fingertips Look Blue or Gray
Your blood carries oxygen throughout your body.
When oxygen levels become dangerously low, the lips, tongue, nail beds, or skin can sometimes develop a bluish or gray appearance. This is called cyanosis.
It can be difficult to recognize, and the appearance may vary with skin tone.
But a new blue or gray color—particularly when accompanied by difficulty breathing, confusion, unusual sleepiness, or chest discomfort—can indicate a serious problem.
This isn’t something to watch for a few days to see if it gets better.
Seek emergency medical care.
Don’t Ignore Your New Normal
Here’s one of the biggest mistakes I see people make as they get older. They gradually change their lives to accommodate a symptom. They stop taking the stairs. Then they stop walking as far. Then someone else starts carrying the groceries.
Eventually, they say:
“I guess I just can’t do those things anymore.”
Sometimes the real problem isn’t aging. It’s an untreated medical condition—or simply a loss of fitness that may be improved.
That’s why paying attention to your functional ability is so useful.
Can you still do the things you normally do?
If not, what changed?
A Simple Breathing Check
Once in a while, pay attention during an activity you regularly perform.
Maybe it’s walking to the mailbox, climbing your stairs, or taking your usual neighborhood walk.
Ask yourself three questions:
Am I more short of breath than usual?
Do I need to stop sooner than I used to?
Has this changed over the past few weeks or months?
This isn’t a medical test, and it’s not a substitute for seeing your healthcare professional.
It’s simply a way of noticing changes instead of gradually adapting to them.
Bottom Line
Your lungs don’t have to be perfect for you to live an active, healthy life.
And yes, some changes in lung function are part of normal aging.
But new or worsening shortness of breath, a persistent cough, wheezing, coughing up blood, unexplained chest pain, repeated respiratory infections, or signs of low oxygen shouldn’t simply be blamed on getting older.
Most importantly, don’t wait until a breathing problem becomes severe before mentioning it.
Your body is pretty good at sending warning signals.
Our job is to pay attention to them.
Getting older is normal. Struggling to breathe isn’t something you should simply accept.