Guide To The Symptoms Of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant lung condition! It affects approximately sixteen million Americans. Patients with it will have long-term issues with their breathing. Two major types of this condition are chronic bronchitis and emphysema! Individuals will typically have both of these. Smoking is the most common trigger for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Diagnostic tests used include lung function tests, CT scans, and chest x-rays.

Patients take prescription inhalers for COPD. Inhaled steroids and bronchodilators are quite common! Specific medications for emphysema patients are also used. Of course, many individuals want to try herbal remedies for COPD. They do exist! Of course, all COPD treatments must be discussed with a doctor after they properly assess the patient's symptoms.

Shortness Of Breath

Shortness of breath makes individuals feel as if they cannot get enough air into their lungs! This symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is most common during exercise. They will often feel like they are suffocating! Patients need emergency medical attention if their shortness of breath is accompanied by nausea, chest pain, or fainting. Doctors evaluate patients with various tests. They will listen to their lungs with a stethoscope. Lung function tests and pulse oximetry are common too! They will order other tests based on need. Thankfully, patients have several treatment options. Medications and supplemental oxygen, for instance, are incredibly effective.

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Lack Of Energy

A lack of energy is a common symptom of this condition! Patients will find it hard to exercise. Patients often feel tired after a walk. Cooking, washing clothes, and doing other simple chores become hard to do as well! Walking up the stairs is also harder for patients with this condition. Thankfully, simple changes make this symptom easier to handle. Patients can use wheeled carts to move items and place products on lower shelves. Using poles helps them reach items in high cupboards! Individuals will benefit from moving their bedroom to the main floor. This allows them to avoid climbing the stairs as often! Patients should also give themselves extra time to complete tasks. Asking for help is crucial too! Patients must talk to their doctor about dramatic drops in their energy.

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Cough And Wheezing

Many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients experience a cough and wheezing! The cough is persistent. Coughing up mucus is common too. The mucus will be green, yellow, clear, or white! The cough from this condition is often referred to as a 'smoker's cough.' A whistling sound when patients breathe is incredibly common. This is wheezing! It happens when individuals inhale and exhale.

Wheezing occurs when the airways have narrowed. The air will vibrate the walls, causing the noise! Mucus clogging the airways also causes this sound. Swelling and inflammation due to cigarette smoke, pollution, and other irritants are also common triggers for wheezing in these patients. Respiratory infections commonly trigger this symptom as well.

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Chest Tightness

Chest tightness is yet another common symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It occurs because of airway obstruction, respiratory infections, and bronchospasms! The respiratory infections that cause tightness in the chest include the flu, acute bronchitis, and pneumonia. Chest tightness because of this condition appears in three ways. One way is feeling stiffness in the chest. Another is patients feeling as if someone is sitting on their chest! The final way this symptom presents is as a squeezing sensation. Patients need to call their doctor when they experience this symptom! They need prompt treatment. Typically, patients need exercise training, breathing techniques, and inhaled medications as part of their treatment.

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Regular Respiratory Infections

This condition makes it harder for patients to clear their lungs of bacteria and pollutants. The result of this is regular respiratory infections! Patients must get vaccinated for pneumonia and the flu to reduce their risk of infection. They need to protect themselves! They also need to avoid air pollution and pollen. Patients need to keep their home clean, as dust is a common irritant. It can cause them to have regular respiratory infections too!

Early symptoms of these infections included increased wheezing and mucus production. A patient's shortness of breath will also worsen! Other symptoms include a sore throat, painful swallowing, fever, headaches, and nasal congestion. Patients need treatment as soon as possible when they have a respiratory infection and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease!