Symptoms causing COPD

• The airways thicken and loose their elasticity, which means they cannot widen when more air is required in the lungs. Because of this breathing can be more difficult, particularly when you exercise.
• The airways also produce excessive mucus. The body can have difficulty clearing this mucus. You may cough more than other people, and cough up more mucus.
• Because of these changes, the lungs are more likely to become infected with bacteria or viruses. You will be more vulnerable to the effects of infections, which may last longer and be more serious than for other people
• As the lungs do not work properly, the oxygen content of the blood may be reduced. You may become extremely fatigued and easily exhausted when doing any physical activity. In addition to becoming breathless, you may find that you are unusually tired or sleepy, and if there is a severe shortage of oxygen in your body your lips and fingertips may turn from pink to blue. These are very serious signs that the levels of carbon dioxide in your body are dangerously high
• COPD can also destroy the tiny air sacks where oxygen dissolves into the blood, so breathing becomes more difficult. This is responsible for you getting out of breath easily
• The lungs and respiratory system will attempt to repair themselves from this damage, and the body produces what doctors call an ‘inflammatory response’. The tissues in the lungs will become red and swollen, and cells in the blood that protect against infection will accumulate in the lungs. This is another aspect of COPD that will make it more difficult for your lungs to work efficiently, and is responsible for making you feel out of breath
• Finally, for reasons that are not entirely clear, people with COPD may be malnourished and lose weight which could be a cause for concern. Proper nutrition is very important in maintaining overall health