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9 COPD Warning Signs You Could Be Ignoring

About 12 million Americans experience COPD symptoms but don't know they have the disease. Would you recognize the warning signs?

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COPD and You

a woman with copd

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 15 million Americans are living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive lung disease that causes breathing difficulties and can even be fatal. Millions more may have COPD and not even know it.

Why is COPD so underdiagnosed? One reason is that many mistakenly think symptoms are just a part of the natural aging process — but even if you have mild symptoms, it’s important to talk to your doctor, as early diagnosis and treatment can help you better manage your condition and prevent disease progression.

Be aware of these COPD warning signs and see your doctor right away if you spot them.

You Feel Short of Breath

Woman feeling short of breath

Do you avoid some everyday activities for fear of becoming short of breath? Shortness of breath and a feeling of tightness in the chest are common COPD symptoms. In fact, it’s the major COPD warning sign, says pulmonologist Barry Make, MD, professor of medicine in pulmonary sciences and critical care medicine at the University of Colorado Denver and director of respiratory care and co-director of the COPD program at National Jewish Medical and Research Center. You might find yourself running out of breath when you’re climbing stairs or walking to your car, but it's also possible to be short of breath when you’re not doing anything at all. Even if it happens only occasionally, be sure to talk to your doctor.

You Notice Changes in Your Mucus

a person coughing mucus out of his lungs

Producing lots of mucus that comes from your lungs, not your sinuses, could be a warning sign of COPD, Dr. Make says. Your lungs need mucus to keep your airways moist, but noticeable changes in your mucus could be a COPD symptom. Look for the need to clear mucus first thing in the morning, an increase in the amount of mucus produced, or a change in its texture or color — especially if it’s yellow or green, and you see blood in it.

You Cough for No Apparent Reason

a man coughing

Another common COPD symptom is a worsening cough — one that doesn’t go away or doesn’t seem to have a cause like a respiratory infection. A constant cough or a cough with no other signs of a cold or flu could be a sign of COPD. If you've been coughing constantly for a few weeks or longer or if you experience a new onset of wheezing, be sure to talk to your doctor.

You Wake Up With Head Pain

a person with head pain

Is your head pounding when you get up in the morning? That could be a warning sign of COPD. When your lungs don’t work properly, you don’t get enough oxygen while you are asleep, and carbon dioxide builds up in your blood. Waking up feeling lightheaded or dizzy could also be a sign of COPD.

Your Ankles Swell

a person with swollen ankles wearing slippers

Swollen ankles, feet, or legs can also signal more severe COPD. This occurs when your blood vessels don’t get the oxygen they need to stay healthy, putting a strain on your heart. This strain can cause fluid to build up, making your ankles, feet, or legs swell up. The swelling can also be caused by damage to your lungs. Watch for this COPD warning sign and bring it to your doctor's attention right away if you notice it.

You're Having Trouble Sleeping

a woman awake in bed

Sleep problems are another warning sign of COPD. Breathing difficulties caused by COPD can be so severe that they wake you up several times through the night. Coughing alone can disrupt your sleep, but so can other conditions that tend to co-occur with COPD, such as sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

You’re Tired All the Time

a person yawning

Fatigue or exhaustion can be another symptom of COPD, says pulmonologist Fernando Martinez, MD, chief of the pulmonary and critical care division at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. Fatigue goes hand-in-hand with breathlessness, so much so that some people may not be able to tell whether they’re fatigued or breathless. If your fatigue is keeping you from doing your regular activities, it could be a COPD symptom, and you should talk to your doctor, says Dr. Martinez.

You Lose Weight for No Reason

a person checking their weight on a scale

Have you lost weight without trying? Unexplained weight loss could be due to COPD. When you have COPD, your lungs have to work harder to allow you to breathe, which requires more calories, Martinez explains. Breathing can burn up to 10 times the calories it does for people without the condition. COPD can also lead to a loss of appetite, which can result in weight loss.

It's Hard to Breathe When Lying Down

a person sitting in a chair

Do you find that you spend nights sleeping in your favorite armchair rather than your bed? Or that, when you are in bed, you need to use more pillows to prop your head and chest up to breathe? If you avoid your bed because breathing is harder when you're lying flat, this could be a symptom of COPD.

Don’t Ignore COPD Warning Signs

a doctor checking a patient's lungs

Although COPD develops slowly, its symptoms usually worsen over time. If you experience any of these warning signs of COPD, even mildly, talk to your doctor about taking a simple breathing test called spirometry. This test assesses your lung function by measuring how much air you can inhale and exhale and how quickly. If you do have COPD, getting a diagnosis is the first step to getting the treatment you need, which will help you breathe easier and continue to lead an active lifestyle.