Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also called COPD often has symptoms that don’t appear until significant lung damaged has already occurred. These symptoms often worsen over time, especially if smoking continues. Usually the first signs and symptoms of COPD include a cough for a prolonged period. COPD symptoms are often then followed by breathlessness and shortness of breath. In the beginning, this symptom usually occurs with exertion, but may turn into breathlessness while doing a simple task such as walking around.
Some more COPD symptoms and signs may include:
- Shortness of breath (usually in patients 60 and older)
- Chest tightness
- Having to clear your throat first thing in the morning
- A chronic cough that produces mucus
- Frequent respiratory infections
- Lack of energy
- Swelling in the legs, ankles or feet
- Unintended weight loss in later stages
- Wheezing (during exertion)
The main cause of COPD is from tobacco smoking. It’s not a huge number, but approximately 2-30 percent of chronic smokers develop COPD. However, many smokers with long histories of smoking may develop reduced lung function.
As air travels down your trachea, and into your lungs through two large tubes, the tubes divide many times- almost like branches of a tree – that end in clusters of tiny air sacs. The air sacs at the ends of these tubes have very thin walls full of tiny blood vessels. The oxygen in the air that you inhale will pass through these blood vessels, and at the same time the carbon dioxide is exhaled. The natural elasticity of the bronchial tubes and air sacs force the air out of the body, and COPD causes them to over expand and therefore lose their elasticity. When the air sacs and bronchial tubes lose their elasticity, air gets trapped in your lungs when you exhale.
In most cases, lung damage that leads to COPD comes from long-term cigarette smoking. Obviously, there are some other factors that can lead to the development of COPD. Genetic susceptibility, cigar smoke, secondhand smoke, air pollution and more can cause lead to COPD.
Some other risk factors for COPD include:
- The combination of asthma and smoking will increase the risk of COPD even more.
- COPD symptoms develop slowly over years, so most people are at least or older than 40 years old when symptoms finally begin.
- Long-term occupational exposure to dust and chemicals in the workplace can irritate your lungs, leading to COPD symptoms.
The diagnosis of COPD is based off a patient’s breathing history, history of tobacco smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke and/or exposure to air pollutants. Other chests to diagnose COPD include: chest x-rays, CT scans of the lungs and a look at the saturation level of oxygen in the patient’s blood.
It is important to see a doctor if you notice these common COPD symptoms. Oxygen Always offers oxygen concentrators to help you breathe easier.
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