What Causes COPD? What are Common Symptoms?
Prolonged exposure to irritants, such as cigarette smoke, is a primary cause of COPD, although other factors can lead to it. COPD is a progressive, chronic disease. COPD is a chronic illness because it gradually worsens over time and although the symptoms can be treated, the disease cannot be cured. By the time someone is diagnosed with COPD, it is likely that the lungs have been losing their ability to function for some time. The most common signs and symptoms of COPD include: • Shortness of breath • Cough • Wheezing • Frequent lung infections • Reduced appetite (which may eventually lead to weight loss) • Restlessness or confusion • Reduced ability to perform daily activities • Fatigue Someone with lung disease may experience these symptoms for ten years or more before they become so bad that activities of daily living become difficult. Most people with lung disease find their difficulty breathing to be the most troublesome symptom. As the disease becomes severe, walking even short d
