Understanding COPD: Symptoms and Physical Manifestations

Obstructive pulmonary disease (commonly referred to as COPD or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a progressive condition which makes it increasingly difficult to breathe. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, include smoking and exposure to lung irritants. The disease has clearly identifiable physical manifestations.

Altered Airways

• COPD physically alters your airways. They lose elasticity and the walls between your air sacs are destroyed while your airway walls become swollen and inflamed. Your airways also tend to overproduce mucus, further clogging your airway.

Common Airway Manifestations

• Manifestations of the disease include airflow limitations characterized by coughing, breathlessness and excessive amounts of phlegm. This also includes symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath which worsens while active and tightness in your chest.

Other Manifestations of the Disease

• There are also manifestations outside of the lungs such as hypoxemia (decreased oxygen pressure in the blood). According to the American Thoracic Society, the inflammation of COPD affects body mass index (BMI); COPD patients usually have a low BMI (less than 21).

Severe Symptoms

• Severe symptoms of obstructive pulmonary disease include blue/gray fingernails or lips (which indicates low levels of oxygen in your blood), rapid heartbeat, difficulty catching your breath and diminished alertness. If you experience any severe symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.

Statistics

• According to the Merck Online Medical Library, approximately 12 million Americans suffer from COPD and it is responsible for 120,000 deaths or more each year in the United States.