These are the early signs of COPD everyone should know about!

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive lung condition that can seriously impact your quality of life if left undiagnosed or untreated. The problem is that most people don’t take the early signs of COPD seriously, and this is how they stay undiagnosed for many years, the condition only getting worse and worse.

Maybe you think that being caught is something less serious, or you are feeling “out of shape” just because you are getting old, but this is not always the case. This can be the COPD sneaking up on you. Considering this, you should be more careful and try to spot the early signs.

COPD doesn’t happen overnight, and it is more prevalent for people with a history of smoking or long-term exposure to irritants like air pollution, dust, or chemical fumes. Every small change can tell you something, and you should keep an eye on what happens to your body.

Read on and find out if you should see a healthcare provider. Early action could be life-changing!

Chest tightness

This is a subtle sign but one of the most concerning early signs of COPD. If you feel pressure, a heaviness, or maybe a slight pain in the chest, this can indicate that there is something wrong with your lungs.

Some describe this feeling as a thigh band wrapped around their chest. This is a very strange sensation, and this is why many overlook it. It may come and go in the beginning and is often triggered by a physical factor such as cold air or even just lying down. Unfortunately, as time goes by, it can get worse.

You might ignore the sensation, but what actually happens is that your lungs are becoming less efficient at moving air in and out. You can feel like taking a deep breath becomes harder, and this can cause a lot of discomfort to many people.

A persistent cough

A cough that doesn’t go away is probably one of the first early signs of COPD. This is known as the “smoker’s cough,” and in time it becomes a normal part of the life of anyone suffering from it.

Generally, the most affected are the ones who smoke or live in the same house as smokers. A cold-related cough goes away on its own in a week or two. If it sticks around for more, this might be one of the early signs of COPD.

Another thing you need to be careful about is the productivity of your cough. If you produce a lot of mucus or phlegm, you should know that this is a sign of COPD. The lungs are trying to take care of themselves and, as a result, produce mucus as a way of eliminating irritants and inflammation.

You might see that this symptom is more severe in the morning right after you wake up or after physical activity. Many people believe that the condition is a consequence of old age and years of smoking.

Increased fatigue

This is one of the most ignored early signs of COPD because it is very easy to find reasons for being tired. Maybe it’s the age, maybe you are out of shape; you can be tired for many reasons, and most people don’t want to think that their fatigue is caused by a disease.

This is why you should try to observe if you have respiratory symptoms besides fatigue. Even in the early stages of COPD, your lungs still struggle to do their job. Getting oxygen into your bloodstream and removing carbon dioxide becomes a burden for your lungs, and in the end, you will feel more tired.

Your muscles and tissues no longer get the fuel they need to function properly, and sooner or later this transforms into a constant feeling of tiredness, even with minimal effort.

One thing you should be careful about is that the tiredness caused by COPD and the early signs of COPD are not something you can compare to your usual tiredness. It is something totally different that affects your ability to do even the most casual tasks. Climbing stairs, walking short distances, or even getting dressed might feel impossible.

It’s easy to overlook fatigue, especially if it sneaks up into your life gradually. But this can be a huge red flag you should never ignore. If you feel more tired than usual and you also have respiratory symptoms such as shortness of breath, you should immediately go to the doctor.

Noisy breathing

This is the most notable of all early signs of COPD, and you should never ignore it. So, if you hear any strange sounds while breathing, such as wheezing, whistling, or squeaking, try to see if this happens when you exhale. If this is the case, it can indicate inflammation in your airways.

These noises happen when your bronchial tubes are strained and the air struggles to pass through them. It is true that there are many more conditions that can trigger these noises, such as asthma or allergies, but if there are also other symptoms present and you are a senior, the chances of them being triggered by COPD are higher.

You might see that the noises can appear during physical activity or when you are lying down. This can seem a little bit confusing because you can’t pinpoint the exact trigger. Generally, the noises sound like a faint whistle or squeal coming from deep within the chest. Over time, this symptom can get worse.

So, listen to your body, and if you notice anything unusual, you should go to the doctor and see what is going on.

Shortness of breath

This can appear from time to time when you are doing intense physical activity, but if you encounter shortness of breath during routine activities, this might be one of the early signs of COPD.

Shortness of breath is often linked to emphysema. This is a condition that affects the tiny air sacs you have in your lungs. They get damaged and, over time, lose their elasticity. When this happens, it becomes harder for you to breathe.

You might see that this shortness of breath appears when climbing stairs, walking uphill, or doing light housework. For example, getting dressed might seem like a burden for you. There are a lot of people who dismiss this sign, but this doesn’t make it less alarming. Being out of shape is a possibility, but this is not always the case.

If you find yourself frequently being out of breath, especially during basic activities, this can be one of the early signs of COPD, and you should be concerned about it. Not being able to take a long and satisfying breath is not normal, and being diagnosed early is the most effective way of staying healthy for a longer time.

Do you want to learn more about this condition? This book can be a good start: Positive Options for Living with COPD: Self-Help and Treatment for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

If you have found this article useful, then you should also read more about: 5 Everyday Things That Could Trigger Your Asthma