What Are the Signs and Symptoms of COPD?
The signs and symptoms of chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD) include:
- Cough
- Sputum (mucus) production
- Shortness of breath, especially with
exercise
- Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you
breathe)
- Chest tightness
A cough that doesn't go away and coughing up lots of
mucus are common signs of COPD. These often occur years before the flow of air
in and out of the lungs is reduced. However, not everyone with a cough and
sputum production goes on to develop COPD, and not everyone with COPD has a
cough.
The severity of the symptoms depends on how much of
the lung has been destroyed. If you continue to smoke, the lung destruction is
faster than if you stop smoking. |