COPD symptoms
introduction
COPD is one of the most common lung diseases in Germany. The consumption of cigarettes in particular is associated with the development of the disease.
COPD is accompanied by typical symptoms, which typically worsen as the disease progresses.
Symptoms of COPD at a glance
COPD is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including:
- Chronic cough
- In the morning mainly with expectoration
- Possibly. hoarseness
- Shortness of breath (during exercise, later also at rest)
- Loss of performance, fatigue
- Cyanosis (turning blue) of the lips and fingernails
- Chest overinflation
- Increased susceptibility to infection
The main symptom of COPD is shortness of breath (Dyspnea), which, depending on the severity of the disease, only appear during exercise or can also be present at rest. There are also nocturnal coughs, a tightness in the chest and congested bronchi.
Other characteristics of this weakness of breath (respiratory insufficiency) are a bluish-purple discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, which can vary in strength depending on the severity (peripheral and central cyanosis). It is an oxygen deficiency when the blood cannot be sufficiently saturated with oxygen. However, this not only leads to a lack of oxygen, but also to the fact that the carbon dioxide (CO2) cannot be exhaled sufficiently. Symptoms are shaky limbs / tremor and restlessness. In the late stages this can lead to symptoms of drowsiness and sleepiness (Somnolence) pass.
Pathologically altered fingernails, which are called watch glass nails, and a changed shape of the chest (barrel chest) are already signs of overinflation of the alveoli. Watch glass nails describe bulb-shaped thickening of the fingertips and sometimes the toes. They usually appear with a thickening of the whole fingers, known as drumstick fingers. They are the result of the lack of oxygen in the tissue (Hypoxia). The exact mechanism of its formation is still unclear.
Chronic cough
The COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is mainly caused by inhaling various pollutants (cigarette smoke, fine dust). These substances are deposited in the airways and lead to an inflammatory reaction, which narrows the airways. The body initially has a simple defense mechanism against these pollutants: It tries to cough up the substances. Particularly fine pollutants such as cigarette smoke and fine dust penetrate very deeply into the lungs. From there they usually cannot be coughed up directly. Instead, the small particles are first transported to larger sections of the airways and from there coughed out of the body.
Especially with permanent or very regular pollution, the body is constantly busy coughing up the toxic substances again. Since the pollutants also attack the surface of the airways, the transport of the particles from the depths of the lungs no longer works reliably. As a result, some of the toxins always remain in the body, which further increases the urge to cough.
Sputum when coughing
Sputum is the material that is also expelled from the airways when you cough. Depending on the underlying disease, the sputum takes on different colors and consistencies. In COPD, the sputum is often white and glassy or white and foamy.
Especially in the case of COPD, which is triggered by regular smoking, the sputum can also be colored black, as the inhaled ingredients of the cigarettes are in it. Sputum is always accompanied by a cough and is an extension of the protective function of the body. This tries to remove the pollutants from the lungs. If simple coughing is not enough, the pollutants are also covered with body secretions so that they can be more easily removed from the airways when coughing.
hoarseness
Hoarseness is the general term used to describe a state in which the voice is occupied. It is only possible to speak softly, the voice sounds very rough. Sometimes it comes to so-called aphonia (Voicelessness). Depending on the cause of the hoarseness, the symptom can be acute or chronic.
With COPD as a chronic disease, hoarseness can also become chronic. The hoarseness occurs on the one hand because the particles that trigger COPD also settle on the vocal cords. The vocal cords are attacked by the partially toxic particles and thereby damaged.
In addition, COPD is a chronic inflammation of the airways, which can also affect the vocal cords and cause permanent damage there.
Shortness of breath
Shortness of breath describes the subjective feeling of difficult or insufficient breathing. The feeling can be objectified by signs such as an increased breathing rate or the use of auxiliary breathing muscles (e.g. support with the hands on the thighs). In people suffering from COPD, the shortness of breath at the beginning of the disease is usually only noticeable during exercise. With increasing obstruction (Constipation / constriction) of the respiratory tract, breathing becomes difficult even at rest. Above all, exhaling the air is only possible with increased work of breathing.
Loss of performance
The loss of performance in COPD at the beginning of the disease is primarily related to the work of breathing. The obstruction (Narrowing) the respiratory tract requires increased work of breathing. This leads to the fact that the affected person becomes out of breath more quickly during exertion.
In the early stages, the disease can usually be compensated for, but the further it progresses, the more noticeable the loss of performance. In later stages, the load on the heart also plays a role in the loss of performance. Due to the damage to the lungs, the right half of the heart in particular is exposed to greater stress. If this can no longer be balanced by the heart muscles, there is also a loss of performance.
fatigue
Due to the obstruction in COPD, exhaling the air from the lungs is only possible through increased work of breathing. This leads to more air being left in the lungs. However, this air is not as oxygen-rich as the freshly inhaled air.
Depending on the amount of "old" air in the lungs, there may be a lack of oxygen in the body. At the beginning of the disease, this is particularly noticeable through a loss of performance during physical exertion. In addition, however, fatigue occurs as the disease progresses, which is also related to the lack of oxygen. In addition, the inflammatory processes that take place in the lungs also contribute to increased physical exertion and thus increased fatigue.
sweat
Sweating as a symptom is not the main focus of COPD. Much more are initially noticeable shortness of breath and a reduction in performance, which can lead to increased sweating during physical exertion, for example. However, many people suffer from night sweats primarily. In particularly severe cases, it is even necessary to change bed linen at night due to sweating.
In the case of inflammatory lung diseases in particular, sweating often occurs in combination with fever and shortness of breath. COPD is not a disease in which there is an acute inflammation in the area of the lungs. However, COPD is chronically accompanied by inflammatory processes, which is why sweating can appear as a symptom.
Does COPD also cause pain?
Pain is usually not a typical symptom of COPD. On the contrary: Usually an inconspicuous cough initially occurs, which is later followed by a drop in performance with shortness of breath during exercise. Pain is rarely expected and, when it occurs, is more likely to be caused by the complications of the disease.
For example, those affected are much more susceptible to colds and other inflammations of the airways.Bronchitis or pneumonia can quickly become dangerous and cause pain at the peak of the disease.
The involvement of the heart in later stages can possibly be accompanied by pain in the chest area.
What are the symptoms of end-stage COPD?
End-stage COPD mainly causes extreme shortness of breath, which occurs even at rest.
This is associated with a strong reduction in performance and a significantly reduced physical resilience. In the later stages, the increased susceptibility of those affected is also a major problem. An infection of the respiratory tract can make COPD so bad for a short time (Decompensation) that life-threatening conditions occur.
The heart is also affected by end-stage COPD. The right half of the heart, which pumps blood into the pulmonary circulation, has to do significantly more pumping work due to COPD. This can lead to right heart failure (Right heart weakness) to lead.
.jpg)
