Depending on the progression of the disease, these symptoms will range in severity. COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a term used to describe a collection of diseases that involves the airways to and from the lungs being blocked, making breathing in and out progressively difficult for sufferers.
- Dyspnea
This is the most distinguishing feature of COPD and involves shortness of breath, gasping for air or labored breathing. In the first instance Dyspnea may only be noticeable on exertion but eventually it may occur while resting.
Dyspnea can be one of the most distressing symptoms of COPD and cause the most anxiety in patients.
- Mucus Production
All humans produce mucus (also known as sputum or phlegm) in their lungs to trap or remove foreign objects. Mucus is expelled by coughing or clearing the throat. COPD sufferers normally produce a small amount of mucus every time they cough.
- Chronic Cough
A chronic cough is a persistent cough that doesn’t seem to go. Whilst it is usually the first symptom of the disease it is usually the one that is overlooked or ignored by patients as they blame it on other factors, such as smoking or environment. A chronic cough may or may not produce mucus and whilst it may initially be intermittent, as the disease progresses the cough can occur all day every day.
- Fatigue
As the volume of oxygen fed to the blood is reduced by the restricted lung capacity, fatigue in COPD patients is three times greater than healthy people. Fatigue is often ignored or passed off as simple tiredness, but it is much more than that and can often be a symptom of something more serious.
- Chest Tightness and Wheezing
Chest tightness can feel as though there is pressure on the chest, making ordinary breathing difficult. Chest tightness may be a symptom of a lung infection and can make breathing deeply painful, so sufferers tend to take short gasping breaths.
Wheezing is a kind of whistling that the chest makes whilst breathing in or out, as the air squeezes out of narrowed airways. Sometimes wheezing also presents abnormal chest sounds when heard through a stethoscope.
The presence or absence of these symptoms does not confirm or deny diagnosis of a COPD.
- Weight Loss and Anorexia
These are common symptoms of COPD, occurring in more severe cases. They are serious as they can lead to malnutrition or be a sign of other diseases.
- Anxiety and Depression
A person diagnosed with a progressive, potentially fatal disease not only has the physical aspects of the disease to cope with but the emotional weight of the information given to them, the knowledge of what may lie ahead and fear of the future. Anxiety and depression are common in COPD sufferers and are often overlooked but they are a crucial part of the diagnosis as both can make COPD worse and affect health in general. Treatment for depression when you have chronic disease can help long term survival and quality of life.
Whilst these are all symptoms of COPD, the order in which they develop, or you notice them, may vary. You may notice dyspnea (airflow limitation) but not have a cough, or you may have a chronic cough but no trouble breathing. If you notice any of these symptoms, especially if you are at high risk or have a family history of COPD, speak to your doctor who will use a number of diagnostic procedures to see if you have COPD.
Stem Cell Therapy can help to repair the damage caused by COPD and stop progression of the disease. At Stem Cell Therapy Mexico we have treated many patients with COPD, with life-changing results. If you would like to know more about how Stem Cell Treatment can help to treat your COPD then call us today on 1.866.668.9263 or 1.619.621.2800.