Lung crackles

[StrayingDog]

Hi.

I’m sort of panicking and thought I should ask about this somewhere, so sorry if this isn’t the place to ask.

I am a 17 year old male and over the last day I have been hearing a cracking noise from my left lung. I looked it up and found out this thing called ‘crackles’ which fits my problem well. It seems it’s only bad news, and I’m afraid my lung is collapsing or something.

I do have health anxiety but I’m not making up symptoms, I’d didn’t know what it was before.

So should I go to the GP ASAP, or what.

Thanks for reading.

[wheezyof]

Hello StrayingDog,

Lung crackles : lots of us in this group have got/had lung crackles, we're still here very much alive - stop worrying so much.

Just as 1 spot does not mean you have smallpox, plague or another deadly illness lung crackles are not likely to kill you.

Yes you should get it checked out. It's possibly an infection. Could be all sorts of things but as I do not have a medical degree or magical powers I can't say. So off to the doctor with you. Worrying will make nasty symptoms like a racing heart, nausea, shortness of breath and stomach cramps. You can carry on worrying and put up with those or let the doctor sort you out.

Worst case scenario? You may have a lung condition. Well 1 in 5 people in the UK has a diagnosed lung condition. I have not seen the modern day equivalent of the plague carts going through the streets, calling "Bring out your lung dead". Have you seen them? No. Of course not. Go to the doctor, you possibly need antibiotics.

Come back here and tell us how you get on xxx

[Boudica1]

As Wheezyof said go to your doctor and get it checked out and try to stop worrying you'll only make yourself ill. Then go out and have fun it's the summer holidays and no more school for 6 weeks.

Let us know how you get on.

X

[Badbessie]

I can only reiterate the very good advice of others. See your GP. How are you hearing your crackles as normally they are only heard through a stethoscope and can be suggestive of an infection. Dr Google is perhaps the worst tool ever in diagnosis as many conditions have the same symptoms and if you wanted you could link crackles to many. Medically crackles come with other symptoms which you have not told us. You have been honest about your anxiety which I think my be driving your concerns. Obviously you need reassuring so ring 111. They will take a detailed history and give good advice.

[Carnival567]

Go to your doctor, you may have a minor lung infection, and don’t worry so much.

[sassy59]

You’ve had great advice StrayingDog so do see your GP and get those crackles cleared up. Take care xxxx

[StrayingDog]

Thanks for the replies everyone, will do!

[peege]

Crackles is usually a sign of infection which needs to be treated so yes, go to the gp asap

[cofdrop-UK]

Please StrayingDog don’t get ahead of yourself. It is obviously worrying you and you would be wise to visit your GP.

Cx

[SquirrelsHolt]

Dear StrayingDog ,just as out other very knowledgeable members have indicated to you, you must see your GP asap so that once he/she has heard your crackles,they can put your mind at rest and with any luck,a course of medication may relieve the symptoms and put you at ease. So make that phone call to your GP today and after you have some answers,would you be good enough to report back,so we can all learn from your "crackles"? 💚💛💙