What Are COPD Symptoms?
COPD symptoms are felt, not measured, so you have to share what symptoms you are experiencing, and how often they occur, with your healthcare provider. Not everyone experiences the same COPD symptoms and knowing in which ways COPD is most impacting your life helps your healthcare provider come up with a treatment plan customized for you.
Here are the most common COPD symptoms:
- Chronic cough
- Shortness of breath while doing everyday activities (dyspnea)
- Coughing up sputum (also called phlegm or mucus)
- Wheezing or chest tightness
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Unable to take a deep breath
- Feel like you cannot breathe
Talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. The sooner you begin treating your COPD and maintaining control, the less damage you will cause to your lungs.
To get a more complete picture, your healthcare provider will also review how often you experience:
- Reoccurring lung infections like pneumonia
- Flare ups, exacerbations, or an event where symptoms are worse than your day-to-day symptoms
- Instances where you felt so severely unwell that you had to seek urgent or emergency care
Later stages of COPD may include worsening of current symptoms as well as weight and muscle mass loss, anorexia, or have an increased risk for depression or anxiety.
Page last updated: November 7, 2023
