9 COPD symptoms you should be aware of

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a group of lung disorders. The main cause of COPD is smoking. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disease. Knowing the symptoms of COPD is very important for early detection and preventing your condition from getting worse.

What are the symptoms of COPD that you need to be aware of?

COPD is a progressive disorder. This means that the patient's condition will worsen over time. That's why in the early stages, this disease is difficult to identify because many misunderstand. Most of the time, symptoms that tend to be mild at first are understood to be normal fatigue or simply "not feeling well".

These COPD symptoms usually don't always come together. Symptoms can appear slowly with further symptoms that will appear when the lung damage is more severe.

If found at an early stage, COPD can be controlled so as not to cause further damage to the lungs. Some of the common symptoms that appear in COPD include:

1. Chronic cough

Coughing is a symptom of COPD that usually appears first before other symptoms. According to the Mayo Clinic, a cough that is persistent for three months (or more) a year for at least two years, indicates a person has COPD. Cough can appear every day, even though there are no other accompanying symptoms, such as colds or flu.

Coughing is the body's way of getting rid of mucus from the airways and lungs and clearing it of other irritants, such as dust. In fact, the body produces normal amounts of mucus everyday. The mucus that comes out when coughing in normal people is usually clear, aka colorless.

However, in people with COPD, the mucus they discharge when coughing is often yellow as a sign of infection. This cough condition usually gets worse in the morning, as well as when exercising or smoking.

2. Wheezing

Another common symptom of COPD is wheezing. Wheezing is a small, whistling sound that occurs when you exhale. This sound is caused by air passing through narrow or clogged ducts.

In people with COPD, wheezing is most often caused by excess mucus that ends up blocking the airways. Even so, wheezing doesn't always mean that you have COPD. Wheezing is also a symptom of asthma and pneumonia.

3. Shortness of breath (dyspnea)

Shortness of breath is one of the characteristics that arise when there are breathing problems, such as COPD.

As the airways in your lungs become swollen, narrowed, and damaged due to inflammation, it will become increasingly difficult for you to breathe or catch your breath. This symptom will be very easily recognized when there is increased physical activity.

These symptoms can make it difficult for you to carry out a daily routine, such as walking, doing simple household chores, changing clothes, or even taking a shower. In fact, at worst, you can also become short of breath while resting. You obviously need medical help to deal with this.

4. Fatigue

Difficulty breathing means that the body doesn't get enough blood and muscle. Without sufficient oxygen, body functions will slow down and there will be fatigue.

This fatigue symptom also occurs because your lungs are working harder to supply oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. As a result, you will run out of energy.

5. Frequent respiratory infections

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aka COPD, have difficulty cleaning the lungs of bacteria, viruses, pollutants, dust, and other substances. Conditions that cause inflammation eventually make lung infections, such as colds, flu, and pneumonia more susceptible to attacking people with COPD.

One of the things that can be done to minimize the risk is by vaccinating and keeping the surrounding environment clean.

Advanced COPD symptoms

Over time, your condition may get worse if you don't take COPD treatment seriously. The early signs and symptoms of COPD mentioned above can progress to advanced symptoms that can occur suddenly and without warning.

These advanced symptoms also have the potential to lead to exacerbation of COPD. According to the Mayo Clinic website, exacerbation (flare up) is defined as an episode of worsening symptoms that lasts for several days.

Here are some of the more advanced COPD symptoms you need to be aware of.

1. Headache

When you have COPD, your lungs have a hard time releasing carbon dioxide and breathing oxygen. Headaches due to COPD occur due to high levels of carbon dioxide in the body and lack of oxygen. This condition will usually worsen in the morning.

2. Swelling of the soles and ankles

As your lungs become more and more damaged, you may develop swelling in the soles and ankles. This occurs because your heart has to work harder to pump blood to the damaged lungs. This condition can eventually lead to congestive heart failure.

3. Weight loss

Generally, patients who have had COPD for a long time will show symptoms of weight loss. The extra energy the heart or lungs use to keep trying to carry out their normal functions can burn more calories than the body gets.

The shortness of breath you feel eventually also makes it difficult for you to do other activities, including eating.

4. Cardiovascular disease

Although the link is not fully understood, COPD can increase the risk of heart-related problems. High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of these symptoms. Advanced stages can also increase your risk for heart attack and stroke.

Even though it can't be cured, you can still try to keep COPD symptoms from worsening and the damage becomes wider. In addition to undergoing treatment obediently, getting checked out if you have risk factors for COPD is also a wise step.

When should I see a doctor?

We recommend that, if you experience shortness of breath and experience a cough that does not go away without any accompanying reasons, immediately see a doctor. By seeing your doctor as soon as possible, you may be able to prevent COPD before it spreads and gets worse.

Persistent symptoms, as well as the appearance of further signs of the disease, are indications that treatment is not working. Call your doctor right away if you don't feel progress with any medications or oxygen therapy you may be getting.

Taking treatment for COPD symptoms that appear early is the best way to relieve symptoms and prolong survival if you have this disease.

How is COPD diagnosed?

Although the disease tends to go unnoticed in its early stages, there are several methods that can be used to diagnose COPD. A spirometer is a simple test used to calculate the amount of air a person can inhale and exhale. This tool allows us to know how effectively and quickly the lungs can be emptied.

Spirometer measurement usually uses three elements, namely:

• Forced vital capacity (FVC), describes the maximum volume of air that can be exhaled in one full breath
• Forced expired volume in one second (FEV1), measures how much air can be exhaled in one second. Normally, the entire contents of the air in the lungs can be completely exhaled (100 percent) within one second.
• FEV1 / FVC, a comparison between FEV1 and FVC that indicates a person's clinical index of experienced air limitation.

The FEV1 / FVC rate, which ranges from 70-80% in adults, is normal. Meanwhile, a FEV1 / FVC ratio that is below 70% indicates limited air circulation (breathing) and the possibility that the patient has COPD.

FEV1 / FVC ratio in COPD patients according to stage

• Stage 1: FEV1 / FVC <70%. With a FEV1 value of 80 percent or more of the predicted value
• Stage 2: FEV1 / FVC <70%. With a FEV1 value between 50-80 percent
• Stage 3: FEV1 / FVC <70%. With the FEV1 value between 30-50 percent
• Stage 4: FEV1 / FVC <70%. With an FEV1 value below 30 percent accompanied by chronic respiratory failure

COPD is a serious condition that can impact life in many ways. Symptoms may not be seen at the onset of the disease. However, by doing regular checkups, you can find lung problems faster, so they can be treated more quickly.