Symptoms of COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious lung disease that can affect your entire body and quality of life. Two forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema; many people are diagnosed with both.
Asthma used to be classified as a form of COPD, however it is now considered to be an inflamatory disorder. Many people who suffer from COPD also have asthma.
COPD symptoms are similar to other disorders; including congestive heart failure (CHF). In order for you to obtain optimal treatment, is it essential that your breathing disorder is diagnosed correctly. Your ability to provide an accurate history is key to obtaining the right diagnosis and treatment plan.
Let’s examine the most common symptoms of COPD.
1. A History of Tobacco Use
While a minute number of individuals who have COPD develop it as a result of a genetic disorder or aging, almost all people who have COPD are smokers or former smokers. You may also develop COPD as a result of secondhand smoke if you have been exposed to smoke on a regular basis.
Affecting as many as 12 million Americans, COPD leads to destruction of the airway and alters the obstruction of the oxygen and release of carbon dioxide
