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COPD Symptoms
Overview
The Mayo Clinic defines COPD as:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Approximately 15 million adults in the US alone are diagnosed with COPD. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. It's caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke. People with COPDare at increased risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer and a variety of other conditions.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions that contribute to COPD. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs. It's characterized by daily cough and mucus (sputum) production.
Emphysema is a condition in which the alveoli at the end of the smallest air passages (bronchioles) of the lungs are destroyed as a result of damaging exposure to cigarette smoke and other irritating gases and particulate matter.
COPD is treatable. With proper management, most people with COPD can achieve good symptom control and quality of life, as well as reduced risk of other associated conditions.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Approximately 15 million adults in the US alone are diagnosed with COPD. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. It's caused by long-term exposure to irritating gases or particulate matter, most often from cigarette smoke. People with COPDare at increased risk of developing heart disease, lung cancer and a variety of other conditions.
Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions that contribute to COPD. Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the lining of the bronchial tubes, which carry air to and from the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs. It's characterized by daily cough and mucus (sputum) production.
Emphysema is a condition in which the alveoli at the end of the smallest air passages (bronchioles) of the lungs are destroyed as a result of damaging exposure to cigarette smoke and other irritating gases and particulate matter.
COPD is treatable. With proper management, most people with COPD can achieve good symptom control and quality of life, as well as reduced risk of other associated conditions.
DYSPNEA / Shortness of Breath
Dyspnea is defined by Wikipedia as:"Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, is a feeling like one cannot breathe well enough. The American Thoracic Society defines it as "a subjective experience of breathing discomfort that consists of qualitatively distinct sensations that vary in intensity", and recommends evaluating dyspnea by assessing the intensity of the distinct sensations, the degree of distress involved, and its burden or impact on activities of daily living."
This Shortness of Breath is also referred to by sufferers as "SOB". Shortness of Breath can also be accompanied by such physical symptoms as:
All of these are symptoms of Dyspnea or Shortness of Breath. Dyspnea is one of the primary symptoms of COPD and many other chronic lung diseases. Active Beat lists 12 major medical causes for shortness of breath.
This Shortness of Breath is also referred to by sufferers as "SOB". Shortness of Breath can also be accompanied by such physical symptoms as:
- Tightness of the chest
- Discomfort or pain when inhaling
- Feeling like there is a rock in your chest
- Feeling like your lungs are tired
- Getting Lightheaded easily, especially when getting up after sitting
- Feeling like you cannot get enough air
- Having to stop in the middle of eating to catch your breath
- Trouble walking up stairs
- Having trouble breathing after bending over
All of these are symptoms of Dyspnea or Shortness of Breath. Dyspnea is one of the primary symptoms of COPD and many other chronic lung diseases. Active Beat lists 12 major medical causes for shortness of breath.
Hacking Cough
A constant cough that produces a lot of mucus, also know as Smoker's Cough is primary symptom COPD. This is due to the excessive production of mucus or Sputum in the bronchi caused by the disease. COPD is a umbrella name for several lung diseases, many of them caused by a history of smoking. These include, Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and others.
Cognitive Disorder
A little known symptom of chronic lung disease is loss of certain cognitive abilities. This particular symptom is caused by the lowering of the amount of oxygen making it to the brain. As one doctor described it, "It is like working at 11,000 feet without an oxygen mask." These cognitive changes are recognizable as:
- Loss of short term memory or increasing forgetfulness.
- Loss of ability to multitask
- Shortening of time one can concentrate
- Difficulty concentrating
Tiredness
Extreme fatigue is one of the major symptoms of COPD. Because the body and organs are getting less oxygen than they are used to or need, the sufferer feel very tired all the time. Most people who have advanced COPD reported that they need to take naps during the day because their energy levels are just so low. Low oxygen levels are very dangerous. If a persons oxygen saturation drops below 90%, there is a chance of organ damage. The lower the oxygen saturation, the higher the risk of organ damage.
Swelling of Ankles or Legs
People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have swelling in their ankles, legs and feet. This kind of swelling is not caused directly by the COPD patient’s chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Instead, complications of COPD called “pulmonary hypertension” and “cor pulmonale” often cause the swelling.
Other Patient Reported Symptoms
Due to interfacing with hundreds of HP sufferers around the world since 2014, we have compiled a larger list of "unofficial" symptoms that appear to be common to this lung disease.
- Chest pain when inhaling
- Feeling of heaviness in the chest
- High or elevated heart rate
- Back pain when breathing
- Feeling exhausted or having a lot of problems breathing after a eating normal meal
- Loss of weight
- Loss of appetite
- Lungs feeling tired
- Bending over causes excessive shortness of breath
- Distinct odors like perfumes making it difficult to breathe
- Clubbing of fingers and toes