Symptoms

You may not experience symptoms of COPD in the early stages of the disease. By the time clear symptoms show up, it may have already damaged your lungs. Sometimes, symptoms may be mistaken for other diseases or aging. So, it is important to watch out for symptoms of COPD specially if you are at high risk of COPD. The most common
ones include -

• Occasional shortness of breath/breathlessness, especially after exercise

• Long-lasting or recurrent cough

• Mucus (phlegm) production

The above symptoms worsen with time. If not treated early, COPD may cause breathlessness while doing simple tasks such as getting dressed and eating. Sometimes, breathing takes an extra effort and you may find that you’re losing weight and getting weaker.