COPD Signs and Stages

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, is the occurrence of chronic bronchitis and emphysema at the same time in the human body. Airways to and in the lungs get narrowed during chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and as a result a person suffering from this condition experiences breathlessness. This is one of the most common COPD signs. Such breathlessness or shortness of breath is coupled by a cough, consistent fatigue and the production of excess mucus.

When a person coughs repeatedly in an attempt to clear blocked airways, he or she may be displaying the signs of COPD. Coughing is a natural and normal reaction to blocked airways. Coughing does not always indicate COPD, even though a person who has COPD will often cough.

The condition progresses through several COPD stages, with the later stages of COPD being the most dangerous. The latest of all COPD stages is late-stage COPD. By this point, the lung capacity of the patient has deteriorated to about 30 percent of normal. Identifying the COPD signs early can prolongue the onset of the later COPD stages.

Among the other common COPD signs is shortness of breath or breathlessness, also known as dyspnea. The normal style of the lung changes, due to internal changes caused by several factors such as smoking. Such changes in the functioning of the lungs causes breathlessness or shortness of breath.

Mucus production, also known as sputum production or phlegm production, is one more sign of COPD. An individual's airways produce a lot of sputum everyday, which is a natural cleaner of the lungs and the airways. When a person regularly inhales irritants such as smoke or any other foreign particles, the lungs produce larger quantities of sputum or mucus in order to protect themselves. Additional sputum produced gets deposited in the airways, which can begin to block the airways and lead to breathlessness as well as difficulty breathing.

Breathlessness in a person suffering from CPOD is also accompanied by tiredness or fatigue. This happens because a continual shortage of breath will eventually lead to a reduced oxygen level in the bloodstream, which results in fatigue. An efficient way to keep tiredness at bay is to keep healthy and physically fit by exercising. The intake of oxygen increases while exercising, which results in an increase in the intake of oxygen in the body. This is a great way for people with COPD to battle ongoing fatigue.