COPD Symptoms

Shortness of breath - dyspnea is the most common symptom of COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. People with COPD commonly describe this as: "I feel out of breath," or "I can't get enough air in". People with COPD typically first notice dyspnea during intensive exercise when the demands on the lungs are greatest. Over the years, dyspnea tends to get gradually worse so that it can occur during milder, everyday activities such as housework. In the advanced stages of COPD, dyspnea can become so bad that it occurs during rest and is constantly present.