Symptoms of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a slow developing disease that causes problems in breathing. In a healthy person, the respiratory tract - main airways and air sacs are elastic and springy. Due to elasticity of the air sacs, they are filled with air during inhalation and deflate during exhalation. This cycle allows an easy breathing in a normal healthy person. In case of an individual having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the main airways and air sacs lose their elasticity and shape, thus leading to difficulty in breathing and/or shortness of breath.

Prolonged smoking is the most common cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It is also observed that people who have a family history of COPD are at a higher risk of developing this pulmonary disorder. Other factors that contribute to the development of COPD include infection, allergies and inhalation of lung irritants like pollens, dusts, smokes and other harmful chemicals. Unlike the symptoms of asthma (a pulmonary disease) that causes reversible air flow limitation, there is chronic, obstructive air flow in and out of the lungs in COPD.

Symptoms of COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease encompasses two related pulmonary disorders, namely, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In chronic bronchitis, there is inflammation or abnormal swelling of the main airways due to constant irritation. Chronic bronchitis is also characterized by abnormal secretion of mucous. In case of emphysema, inflammation occurs in the smaller air sacs. Both these medical conditions may be accompanied by lung damage.

The outcome of chronic bronchitis and emphysema is narrowing or blockage of the respiratory passages, leading to breathing disorder. Overall, the chronic airflow obstruction in COPD may be caused due to the factors - damage of the walls between the air sacs, loss of elasticity of the mucous linings, inflammation in the walls of the airways and clogging of the respiratory passages by excessive mucous secretion.

Chronic cough is the early noticeable sign of COPD. If cough is left untreated, it progresses to productive cough with mucus secretions. In the first few weeks, coughing up mucous tends to remain in on and off condition. However, it turns into a chronic condition over a period of time. In such a condition, the person may cough up a lot of mucus daily. Many a times, people consider this productive cough to be smokers' cough.

The symptoms of breathlessness develop gradually. Initially, a difficulty in breathing is observed during physical exertion like aerobic exercise or climbing stairs. However, it turns chronic after some time. The symptoms of breathlessness worsen in people who continue smoking. At this stage, the patient faces problem in breathing even at rest or during less physical activity.

Other symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are dysphagia, wheezing, morning headache, fatigue and at times, fever. Studies have revealed that people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are more susceptible to chest infections than others. The symptoms of COPD may worsen with chest infection. If chest infection occurs, the expelled sputum is yellow or green in color. The pathophysiology of COPD is highly complex. As of now, it is not clearly understood about the structural and physiological changes developed due to COPD.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is diagnosed based on the symptoms, imaging tests (X-ray and computed tomography or CT) and pulmonary function tests (PFTs). Various treatment options include smoking cessation, medications, inhalation therapy and antibiotics (if infection is present). The most effective treatment option is to quit smoking immediately. The physician may consider surgical removal of the affected lung portion in severe cases of COPD.