Definition of mild COPD The most common presenting symptom is dyspnea with exertion or chronic cough with or without sputum production. Other (but more infrequent) symptoms include chest pain, orthopnea and wheezing. However, there is also a group of patients with abnormal spirometry but are otherwise asymptomatic.
Stage 1: Mild COPD
"During mild stage COPD, you may feel out of breath during light physical activity, like doing housework or walking up the stairs," says Dr. Hatipoglu. "A hacking cough that produces mucus is also common," he adds.
Stage 1: Mild COPD: People have mild limitations to their airflow, and some may also have an ongoing cough. They may cough up sputum, a mixture of mucus and saliva. Someone in this stage may not be aware that their lung function is abnormal.
For example, one study found that people who were diagnosed with mild stage COPD, or GOLD stage 1, had no shorter life expectancy than healthy people. This is especially so if you don't smoke: Other research has found that life expectancy with COPD is reduced further for past and current smokers.
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.
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.
There's no cure at any stage of the disease, but the sooner you catch it, the sooner you can start treatment. That gives you the best chance of slowing it down and having a good quality of life for as long as possible.
Official answer. Between 88% and 92% oxygen level is considered safe for someone with moderate to severe COPD. Oxygen levels below 88% become dangerous, and you should ring your doctor if it drops below that.
There are four distinct stages of COPD: mild, moderate, severe, and very severe. Your physician will determine your stage based on results from a breathing test called a spirometry, which assesses lung function by measuring how much air you can breathe in and out and how quickly and easily you can exhale.
COPD isn't curable, but there are treatments to manage its symptoms as well as ways you can slow down its progression to help you live longer and better. Lifestyle changes can help you avoid exacerbations, which are periods where COPD symptoms can become much worse and may require a trip to the emergency room.
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.
Definition of mild COPD
The most common presenting symptom is dyspnea with exertion or chronic cough with or without sputum production. Other (but more infrequent) symptoms include chest pain, orthopnea and wheezing.
Shortness of breath does not always indicate that you are hypoxic. In other words, your level of dyspnea, or air hunger, does not always correlate with your oxygen saturation. This means that you can be short of breath, even extremely short of breath, even in the presence of normal oxygen saturation.
When you have COPD, shortness of breath (and other symptoms, such as coughing) are an important measure of your current health status. However, knowing your saturation level is also important. And, unfortunately, it is entirely possible to be short of breath, but have healthy oxygen saturation.
Finding the cause of shortness of breath
A person may have dyspnea even though the actual levels of oxygen are within a normal range. It is important to understand that people do not suffocate or die from dyspnea. But tell your health care team right away if you have any of these symptoms or if they get worse.
This low impact activity (meaning it's easy on joints) can improve the body's ability to use oxygen, build endurance, strengthen muscles, and enhance an overall sense of well-being. A regular walking routine also can make it easier for someone with COPD to be more self-sufficient and better able to tolerate exercise.
Many people will live into their 70s, 80s, or 90s with COPD.” But that's more likely, he says, if your case is mild and you don't have other health problems like heart disease or diabetes. Some people die earlier as a result of complications like pneumonia or respiratory failure.
Stage 2 COPD life expectancy is 2.2 years.
Some research indicates that it can take 10 years or longer to progress from the mild stage to the very severe stage. However, worsening COPD is strongly linked to continuing to smoke, while quitting can slow the progression of the disease.