Common Symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, is an overarching term used to describe several progressive lung diseases (i.e., refractory asthma, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, and emphysema). The progressive nature of COPD means that this disease increases in severity over time, beginning with mild symptoms and leading to extreme breathing difficulties and increasing breathlessness as damage in the lungs worsens. Sadly, COPD causes permanent and irreparable lung damage. However, even though the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate roughly 15 million Americans are living with COPD, many are totally unaware. The good news is that COPD can be managed with proper the right diagnosis and treatment. Look for the following early warning signs of COPD: Chronic cough A stubborn cough that gradually worsens for no apparent reason (i.e., no respiratory infection or flu) should be concerning. A lingering cough may be a sign of COPD if it’s accompanied by wheezing and labored breathing. Unexplained fatigue Like a cough that appears for no apparent reason, exhaustion that strikes with no explanation can indicate an underlying health issue, like COPD. Tiredness that impacts your life (i.e., prevents you from daily routine activities) should be brought to the attention of a medical professional immediately.