Around 6.8 million people in Germany suffer from COPD – many of whom are not even familiar with the disease. We will tell you what the lung disease is all about and which 3 symptoms you can use to recognize COPD.
Table of Contents
What is COPD?
COPD is currently an incurable lung disease and is the fifth most common cause of death in Germany . The abbreviation stands for the English term chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , which can be translated as chronic narrowing lung disease . Chronic because the course of the disease can only be slowed down and slowed down, but not reversed. In 80 to 90 percent of cases, COPD goes to smokingfrom cigarettes, which is why stopping smoking immediately is the best way to prevent and slow down the progression of the disease. Other possible causes include genetic factors and environmental pollution. In later stages of COPD, other organs and body regions such as the heart , nervous system, muscles and metabolism are also affected. In addition to respiratory failure, heart attacks in COPD are also the ultimate cause of death.
COPD: 3 symptoms of lung disease
The following signs should be taken very seriously, especially if they occur regularly, as these are the three main symptoms of COPD:
1. cough
Frequent or even daily coughing is the first sign of COPD for most patients. In the early stages, this symptom occurs mainly in the morning after waking up. The morning cough is also known as the so-called smoker ‘s cough and often occurs together with the next symptom.
2. Ejection
As the disease progresses, the cough gets worse, no longer only occurs in the morning but at any time of the day and can be accompanied by sputum. In COPD, the glands in the lungs that produce mucus enlarge as the disease progresses. This increases the amount of mucus that needs to be coughed up. At the same time, the cilia that actually clear the bronchi of mucus die off.
3. Shortness of breath
In the early stages, those affected usually only feel this symptom under physical stress. Shortness of breath occurs, for example, when climbing stairs, riding a bicycle or doing strenuous housework: You are short of breath and have the feeling that you are not getting enough oxygen. In later stages, COPD patients are short of breath even at rest and without exertion.
These 3 signs, also known as AHA symptoms (shortness of breath, cough, sputum production), are characteristic of COPD and become progressively worse as the disease progresses. In addition, the lung disease can also cause noise when exhaling and a feeling of tightness in the chest. Depending on the remaining lung function (I to IV) and the severity of the symptoms (A to D), those affected are divided into the categories GOLD IA to GOLD IV D ( Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung D isease ) .
