Signs and Symptoms: COPD

COPD – Signs and Symptoms
• An ongoing cough or a cough that produces large amounts of sputum (often called "smoker's cough")
• Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
• Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe upon exhalation)
• Chest tightness
• Hemoptysis
• You're having a hard time catching your breath or talking.
• You're not mentally alert.
• Your heartbeat is very fast.
Chronic bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis occurs mainly in smokers. It's defined as a cough that you have at least three months a year for two consecutive years. People who continue to smoke may go on to develop emphysema, but in smokers who are able to quit, the cough may clear in a few days or weeks.
Signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis include:
• Having to clear your throat first thing in the morning, especially if you smoke
• A chronic cough that produces yellowish sputum
• Shortness of breath in the later stages
• Frequent respiratory infections
Emphysema
Signs and symptoms of emphysema include:
• Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
Signs
• Central cyanosis
• Clubbing of finger
• Your lips or fingernails turn blue or gray. (This is a sign of a low oxygen level in your blood.)
• Hyperinflated Chest (barrel chest)
• Hyper-resonance on auscultation
• Reduced expansion on inspiration
• Vesicular breathing but it may be low due to low flow rates
• Reduced cardiac and hepatic dullness (large lungs)
• Decreased vocal resonance as sound doesn’t travel easily through air.