COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Symptoms May Develop Slowly
COPD develops slowly, and COPD symptoms usually slowly get worse over time.
Common day-to day COPD symptoms include:
- Cough
- Coughing up mucus of phlegm
- Difficult or labored breathing; shortness of breath especially during physical activity
- Wheezing and chest tightness
Many people with COPD periodically experience exacerbations, a worsening of their COPD symptoms lasting a few days or longer, which may include:
- An increase in mucus production, cough, and shortness of breath
- A change in the color of sputum
- Fever
- Fatigue
By the time many people are diagnosed with COPD, they may have lost some of their lung function. So it’s really important that you talk to your doctor if you have any of the symptoms listed.
If you are diagnosed with COPD, there are some things you can do to make living with COPD easier.
If you have COPD, there may be times when your day-to-day COPD symptoms get worse than usual. These episodes can last for a few days or longer, and often require antibiotics, oral steroids, and in some cases, hospitalization. Doctors call them exacerbations.
While many COPD exacerbations are caused by lung infections, they can also be caused by air pollution or the cause may not be known.