What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of COPD?

COPD Symptoms

This article is intended to provide basic answers to common questions about COPD symptoms, like "What are the signs and symptoms of COPD?" and "What are the early symptoms of COPD?"

Since COPD symptoms often resemble symptoms of other lung problems, it's best to see a doctor as soon as you notice anything that could indicate you have early symptoms of COPD.

Early symptoms of COPD Unfortunately, there are usually no noticeable early symptoms of COPD. Symptoms only begin to show up until significant there's been significant lung damage. Once early symptoms of COPD begin to appear, they usually get progressively worse unless the patient seeks COPD treatment. You can have COPD and not even know it until you start to have trouble breathing after even the mildest exertion. Shortness of breath is probably the most noticeable of the early symptoms of COPD.

Another early COPD symptom is a productive cough. The word productive in this context means your cough is producing mucus. A cough of this sort that has not been caused by a cold or the flu could be an early COPD symptom.

What are the signs and symptoms of COPD? Other signs and symptoms of COPD vary. But they could include any of the following

Breathing with pursed lips - Someone who has problems exhaling is likely to do this. It occurs because the COPD sufferer is trying to slow down exhalation, which keeps pressure in the airways. Without this positive pressure, airway collapse becomes a possibility.

Cyanosis - Cyanosis is a medical term for "turning blue." Individuals who can't get enough oxygen because airflow to the lungs is compromised often have a bluish tinge to their skin, lips, and nail beds.

Chronic cough - This, again, is one of the most common symptoms of COPD, and it grows worse as the disease progresses. In the early stages of COPD, this type of cough begins to appear every morning. Gradually, it starts happening all day long.

Wheezing - We all know what wheezing sounds like. It's a high pitched noise that occurs as air is forced through narrowed airways.

Coughing up blood - The medical name for this condition is hemoptysis. It is one of the most common symptoms of COPD. Most of the time, there are just small amounts of blood in the sputum. Hemoptysis can also be a symptom of lung cancer.

Weight loss - Severe COPD makes the body work harder to do the simplest of things. As a result, the body burns off a lot more calories than it would normally take to do the same tasks. Shortness of breath during meals can also make eating less pleasurable, and as a result, the patient eats less. Pounds come off.

Edema - When you have severe COPD, your circulation deteriorates and blood flows less efficiently to your extremities. This is known as edema, and it causes swelling and tenderness in the feet. Fluid may also collect in the abdominal area - a condition known as ascites.

Barrel chest - This is one of the most telling signs and symptoms of COPD. The lungs grow larger and the diaphragm is pushed downward. When this happens, it can no longer contract efficiently. As a consequence, the chest wall is enlarged, and muscles that help you breathe get larger. This gives the individual the appearance of having a barrel chest.

As mentioned above, symptoms of COPD sometimes resemble symptoms of other lung conditions and diseases. Your doctor is, of course, the best source for a reliable diagnosis.

In the United States, two lung diseases are catagortized under the definition of COPD. Read more about them by clicking on emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Search for more information on COPD symptoms by typing a relevant keyword or phrase in the search box below.