Given that smoking is the poster child for lung cancer, with around 80 to 90 percent of lung cancer deaths attributed to it, you'd think non-smokers could breathe easy, right? Wrong. For some strange reason, it seems the grim reaper of diseases is now gate-crashing the non-smoker's party: around 20 percent of lung cancer fatalities have the 'never-smoked' tag.

A doc in Ohio has pulled together a hit list of early warning signs straight out of a health-focused action thriller. Don't roll your eyes, these are surprisingly common symptoms that could be mistaken for tamer health issues. So, let's play 'Symptoms of Lung Cancer or Just a Mild Cold?'.

Item number one: Huffing like you've turned a marathon when all you've done is climbed the stairs to your office? That's alarm bell material. Shortness of breath could be your lungs whispering, "Houston, we've got a problem."

Cue item two. You're talking a leisurely walk to your car when suddenly, Wham! Your heart's slamming against your chest wall like it's caught rave fever. Your heart racing for no discernible reason? That's concerning, says our doc from Ohio.

The third eye-opener is a chronic cough that sticks around like an unwelcome houseguest. A cough lasting longer than a Netflix series? Yep, ring those alarm bells.

Fourth on the list, coughing up blood. Wait, what? You heard it right. This is a red flag the size of Texas and needs urgent evaluation.

Finally, unexplained weight loss, a persistent fever with no sign of an illness, and excessive night sweats - think nightly monsoon - could be sings of a hidden cancer lurking around.

Now, you'd think with these signs, lung cancer screening happens as often as Instagram posts. Surprisingly, not even close. In 2022, barely 16 percent of the high-risk population took wing towards a lung cancer screening. Without screening, lung cancer is like an assassin - you never see it coming.

If you fit the screening criteria or are experiencing any of these alarm-worthy symptoms, skedaddle to your doctor immediately. With more homes exhibiting radon levels that'd make Chernobyl sweat and increased pollution levels contributing to lung cancer in non-smokers, you don't want to be playing Russian Roulette with your lungs.

So, the moral of this oddly entertaining story? You don't need to be a pack-a-day puffer to get the lung cancer invite. Be your own Holmes, watch for these early signs, and keep lung cancer at bay.