Donate
Call the Lung HelpLine
Ask a Question
The following text field filters the results that follow as you type. Use Tab to access the results.
  1. Home
  2. Lung Health & Diseases
  3. Lung Disease Lookup
  4. COPD
  5. Symptoms & Diagnosis
  6. COPD Symptoms

COPD Symptoms

COPD symptoms can differ for each person. Learn to recognize the most common symptoms and how they impact your life.

What Are COPD Symptoms?

COPD symptoms are felt, not measured, so you have to share what symptoms you are experiencing, and how often they occur, with your healthcare provider. Not everyone experiences the same COPD symptoms and knowing in which ways COPD is most impacting your life helps your healthcare provider come up with a treatment plan customized for you.

iframe video

Over 12 million Americans have been diagnosed with COPD, however millions more may be living with COPD but have not been diagnosed.

Watch Video

Watch in Spanish

(0:03 - 0:35)

Early warning signs of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD, include feeling short of breath, coughing, and producing excess mucus or phlegm. Anyone can develop COPD, but you may be at a higher risk if you are 40 years old or older, and currently, or used to, smoke. Other causes of COPD can include exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution, having a history of childhood lung infections, and Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, which is often called the genetic type of COPD.

(0:38 - 0:57)

Being around dust, chemicals, and fumes in your workplace may also increase your risk of developing COPD. COPD may develop slowly, but over time, symptoms can get worse. People may avoid talking to their health care provider about their symptoms because they think their symptoms are caused by other factors.

(0:58 - 1:23)

But millions of people are diagnosed with COPD, and millions more are living with symptoms of COPD but have not been diagnosed. If you have risk factors or COPD symptoms like shortness of breath or have a cough that isn't going away, call your health care provider to learn about testing for COPD. Based on your medical evaluation, your health care provider may determine you have emphysema and or chronic bronchitis.

(1:24 - 1:32)

Both are types of COPD and have treatments available to help relieve your symptoms. Learn more at Lung.org slash COPD.

Here are the most common COPD symptoms:

  • Chronic cough
  • Shortness of breath while doing everyday activities (dyspnea)
  • Coughing up sputum (also called phlegm or mucus)
  • Wheezing or chest tightness
  • Fatigue or tiredness
  • Unable to take a deep breath
  • Feel like you cannot breathe

Talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any of these symptoms. The sooner you begin treating your COPD and maintaining control, the less damage you will cause to your lungs.  

To get a more complete picture, your healthcare provider will also review how often you experience:

  • Reoccurring lung infections like pneumonia
  • Flare ups, exacerbations, or an event where symptoms are worse than your day-to-day symptoms
  • Instances where you felt so severely unwell that you had to seek urgent or emergency care 

Later stages of COPD may include worsening of current symptoms as well as weight and muscle mass loss, anorexia, or have an increased risk for depression or anxiety.

COPD exacerbations or flare ups are events where symptoms are worse than your day-to-day symptoms. Treatment for flare ups may include increased use of medications, but severe exacerbations can also lead to an emergency room visit or hospitalization.
Learn more about COPD exacerbations

Page last updated: April 9, 2025

Freedom From Smoking Clinic - Geneva, OH
Geneva, OH | Apr 03, 2025 Freedom From Smoking Clinic - Cleveland, OH
Cleveland, OH | Apr 22, 2025
See All Events