Chest pain

I've been a heavy smoker for about five years now. Within the past couple of weeks I've noticed I can't take very deep breaths, a very strong, phlegmy cough, and I am incapable of holding my breath for more than 15 seconds without getting light headed. I've just recently started coughing up small amounts of blood with my phlegm, what should I do?

[riley180]

The first thing is to make steps to discontinue smoking. Quitting is not easy, some patients may benefit from drugs that would suppress the craving. Some symptoms  may be exacerbated by the current smoking status.  Heavy smokers generally develop a “smoker’s cough”  which is due to destruction of normal phlegm clearing cells  along the airways. The blood may simply be due to irritation associated with frequent coughing, though I’d strongly  advise you to see a doctor and I wouldn’t be surprised if a Chest Xray is done at the least.