Understanding
COPD
ABOUT COPD AND ITS SYMPTOMS
What is COPD?
| C | O | P | D |
| Chronic | Obstructive | Pulmonary | Disease |
| A condition that lasts a long time and is always present | Blocked or hindered | Related to the lungs and airways | A condition or illness |
| COPD is a condition where the lungs feel blocked and it is difficult to breathe, which is experienced most of the time, for a long time. 11 | |||
COPD affects a person’s lungs, making it more difficult to breathe. This leaves them feeling tired, and can even affect the rest of the body’s systems as the condition progresses. 8,9
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term that involves two conditions called chronic bronchitis (bron-ki-tis) and emphysema. A person could have only one or both of these conditions at the same time. 8
Chronic bronchitis
A condition where inflammation and swelling irritate the airways and cause them to be smaller than normal, reducing the flow of air in and out of the lungs when you breathe. There are also glands in your airway that produce more mucus (phlegm) than usual, which adds to the blocked airways. 4,8
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Emphysema
The lung holds millions of tiny sacs that “inflate” and deflate like balloons when you breathe. In a normal lung, the alveoli push out air easily when you breathe out, as it is elastic. When you have emphysema, the alveoli lose their elasticity and become stiff. Air is trapped in the alveoli, and it takes much more effort to force the air out, leaving you feeling tired. 8
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Although Asthma is also a lung-related condition, it is not regarded to be COPD-related, even though many of the symptoms may be the same. That said, it is possible for a person to have both Asthma and COPD. 8,12
Symptoms of COPD
It may start with a cough that won’t go away, and extra irritating phlegm that you cannot get rid of. 10 Don’t delay – if you experience any of the symptoms of COPD, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. 8
A person with COPD may have one or more of the following symptoms: 4,8
Feeling short of breath when resting or during physical activity
Feeling tired
A cough that lasts longer than three months
Getting several infections such as the cold, flu or pneumonia and taking longer to recover
Coughing up mucus/phlegm
Wheezing
Feeling short of breath when resting or during physical activity
Feeling tired
A cough that lasts longer than three months
Getting several infections such as the cold, flu or pneumonia and taking longer to recover
Coughing up mucus/phlegm
Wheezing
The symptoms of COPD may not be noticeable during the early stages of the condition; it generally starts slowly and gets worse over time. 8,12
Are you at risk of having COPD? Answer these questions to determine your risk.
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COPD causes and risk factors
COPD is a preventable condition, and the first step in keeping your lungs healthy is to know what the most likely causes are. 8
Diagnosis of COPD
Many people have early-stage COPD but are not yet aware of it, and they are therefore not proactively protecting their lungs from further damage. Up to 7 in every 10 people who experience persistent breathing issues have never been diagnosed.15