Symptoms of COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common lung diseases. It generally defines the conditions which consist of regular difficulty in expelling or exhaling air from the lungs. There are two major forms of COPD: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Chronic bronchitis consists of a long term cough with mucus. Emphysema is a gradual destruction of the lungs. Most people who have COPD have a combination of these forms because smoking is a major cause of both of them.

The most common symptoms of COPD are a cough with mucus, shortness of breath (dyspnoea) which gets more severe with any mild activity, fatigue, frequently respiratory infections such as colds and influenza, and wheezing. The symptoms of COPD usually develop slowly. This makes it difficult for people to know if they are sick. If people do notice symptoms, they may simply take measures to make their breathing easier, such as taking the elevator instead of the stairs.

For severe forms of COPD, people may experience swelling in their ankles, feet or legs. They may also develop a bluish lip colour due to their low COPD oxygen levels. Other symptoms that sometimes occur in severe forms include weight loss and lower muscle endurance. Weight loss can occur with COPD because of the extra amount of energy that is required for breathing. Additionally, people may develop pulmonary hypertension because the heart muscle is pumping with higher force and pressure to maintain regular blood flow. Some severe forms also result in coughing up blood (haemoptysis), due to the damage of the airways' inner lining and blood vessels. It is important for people to consult their doctors if they have haemoptysis because sometimes this can be a sign of lung cancer.

The amount of lung damage a person has will determine how severe his COPD is. People who continue to smoke after their COPD diagnoses will have increased lung damage and more severe symptoms. If a person has COPD, one of the best things that he can do for his health is stop smoking.

Some severe symptoms may require hospital treatment. People should seek medical attention if they are having a hard time catching their breath or taking, see their lips or fingernails turning blue or gray (which is a sign of low COPD oxygen in their blood), are not mentally alert, or have a very rapid heartbeat. It is also important to seek medical attention when the treatment that has been recommended for a person's symptoms is no longer working.

Mithul Mistry is writing on behalf of Health Oxygen, a specialist in COPD.

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