One of the first signs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may be a cough that will not go away. Coughing is your body's natural defense mechanism to keep breathing pathways clear of irritants such as dust or smoke and mucus. When you have COPD, you have excess mucus and more frequent coughing.
A COPD-related cough is often productive, which means the person coughs up sputum or phlegm. However, some people with COPD may have a dry cough. This includes those who have COPD and asthma.
Main symptoms
Common symptoms of COPD include: shortness of breath – this may only happen when exercising at first, and you may sometimes wake up at night feeling breathless. a persistent chesty cough with phlegm that does not go away.
Stage 1 Symptoms are mild and often unnoticed, except during times of exertion. These include mild shortness of breath and a nagging dry cough. Stage 2 Shortness of breath worsens, accompanied by a persistent cough and phlegm production. Flare-ups can cause changes in phlegm color.
An ongoing cough is a common symptom of COPD, especially when it comes with mucus. It isn't pleasant, but there are ways to manage it.
In general, COPD progresses gradually — symptoms first present as mild to moderate and slowly worsen over time. Often, patients live with mild COPD for several decades before the disease progresses to moderate or severe.
You can do a little checking yourself with a stopwatch. Take a full breath; hold if for one second. Then, with your mouth open, blow out as hard and fast as you can. Your lungs should be completely emptied – meaning that you can blow no more air out even though you try– in no more than 4 to 6 seconds.
When a person has stage 1 COPD, their symptoms may be so mild that they do not even realize that they have it. Over time, symptoms can include shortness of breath, chronic cough, and frequent respiratory infections. These will generally become more severe as the condition progresses.
According to one 2021 study, crackling sounds are common in COPD. There are two distinct types of crackling sounds detectable in the lungs: coarse and fine. Coarse crackles are more typical of COPD and present as prolonged, low pitched sounds. Fine crackles are more high pitched.
Chronic Cough
Most healthcare providers consider a cough chronic if it's been going on for eight weeks or more. In emphysema, the long-term cough can be described as productive (with sputum) or non-productive (without sputum).
Shortness of breath: especially during physical activity. Wheezing. Tightness of the chest. Excessive throat clearing: especially first thing in the morning.
Your doctor will examine you and use a stethoscope to listen for wheezing or other abnormal chest sounds. Lung function and imaging tests will tell your doctor whether you have COPD and how serious it is.
COPD, especially in advanced cases, can cause peripheral edema, or fluid retention. This may make your legs, ankles, and feet swell. The swelling is usually about the same on both sides of your body. It may be pitting, which means pressure causes it to stay indented.
“Feeling bloated” is an unexpected - but common - symptom of COPD. Bloating affects everyone differently, but many people who “feel bloated” report flatulence (gas), frequent burping, and abdominal rumbling.
"COPD is a disease with a lot of moving parts," says Albert A. Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association. "It's not a death sentence by any means. Many people will live into their 70s, 80s, or 90s with COPD.”
Symptoms of COPD include: Frequent coughing or wheezing. Excess phlegm or sputum. Shortness of breath.
Although there's no cure for this progressive lung disease, it can be managed (and its progression slowed) by taking the right steps and by working closely with your doctor. COPD is currently categorized into four stages: mild, moderate, severe, and very severe.
COPD is a lifelong illness. But it's hard to predict how quickly someone may progress from mild to severe COPD. Some people can live with mild or moderate COPD for decades. Other people may be diagnosed with more advanced COPD and progress to very severe disease much faster.
While a chest x-ray may not show COPD until it is severe, the images may show enlarged lungs, air pockets (bullae) or a flattened diaphragm. A chest x-ray may also be used to determine if another condition may be causing symptoms similar to COPD.
Many people don't notice any symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the early stages. In some cases, this may be because there aren't any.
During the most common test, called spirometry, you blow into a large tube connected to a small machine to measure how much air your lungs can hold and how fast you can blow the air out of your lungs. Other tests include measurement of lung volumes and diffusing capacity, six-minute walk test, and pulse oximetry.
Blood tests
Arterial blood gas tests measure the amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood to help see how well your lungs are working. Most people with COPD are tested for a deficiency of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). AAT is a protein that helps maintain the health of the lungs and liver.
Although any damage done to your lungs and airways cannot be reversed, giving up smoking can help prevent further damage. This may be all the treatment that's needed in the early stages of COPD, but it's never too late to stop – even people with more advanced COPD will benefit from quitting.