The agency noted that a cough lasting more than three weeks could be an early symptom of lung cancer, the deadliest form of cancer in the UK, killing more than 33,000 people annually.
The warning came on the occasion of a lung cancer awareness campaign, as the agency posted on its page on the "X" platform a post saying: "A cough that lasts for more than 3 weeks may be a possible symptom of lung cancer."
The agency added, according to the Mirror newspaper, that a persistent cough does not necessarily mean cancer, as it may be caused by other diseases such as colds, COVID-19, or allergies, but it requires a doctor's visit to conduct the necessary examinations, such as breathing tests, X-rays, and analyses to accurately determine the cause.
The agency stressed that early diagnosis of lung cancer can save many lives, emphasizing the need to pay attention to any symptoms that persist for a long time and not ignore them.
Doctors also pointed out that some chronic symptoms could be indicators of cancer, such as general fatigue, night sweats, shortness of breath, and persistent muscle pain.
They also warned against symptoms that persist for more than three weeks without a clear cause—such as diarrhea, chronic constipation, or blood in the stool—as these could also indicate serious illnesses requiring immediate medical attention.
