Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an umbrella term used to describe progressive lung diseases like emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and asthma. This disease is primarily characterized by increasing breathlessness.
Many people mistake their increased breathlessness and coughing as a normal part of aging. In the early stages of the disease, you may not notice the symptoms. COPD can develop for years without noticeable shortness of breath not seeing symptoms until the more developed stages of the disease. It is important that you talk to your doctor as soon as you notice any of these symptoms. Ask about taking a spirometry test.
What are the signs and symptoms of COPD?
- Increased breathlessness
- Frequent coughing (with and without sputum)
- Wheezing
- Tightness in the chest
DID YOU KNOW? COPD affects an estimated 30 million individuals in the U.S., and over half of them have symptoms of COPD and do not know it. Early screening can identify COPD before major loss of lung function occurs.
At Danbury Senior Living, our clinical teams are trained and very familiar with ailments like COPD and can help manage the symptoms on a daily basis, call today to learn more!
