Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death in the United States. This inflammatory lung condition makes it hard to breath. COPD is frequently connected with other medical issues, for example, coronary heart disease. Even though COPD is treatable, it can cause major health issues if it is not treated during onset.
COPD and a simple cough can be confused with one another. Because of the severity of COPD, it is important to know whether you have COPD or a cough from allergies or a cold.
What Are The Main Symptoms Of COPD?
The symptoms of COPD are different depending on the type you have. The most common types of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. There are also many other times of COPD. This lung disease makes it difficult to breath, so it results in chronic coughing. This is the most widely recognized symptoms of COPD in the early stages.
The bronchitis type of COPD creates an over abundance of bodily fluid. The emphysema type of COPD causes wheezing. Individuals with COPD may have short breaths even without doing any physical activity, and they may encounter wheezing or feelings of snugness in the chest.
As COPD advances, patients have trouble getting enough oxygen. This becomes apparent if your lips or fingernails look blue and you always feel tired.
What Illnesses Are Mistaken For COPD?
In the beginning stages of COPD, patients might be misdiagnosed with the flu or pneumonia. These sicknesses are respiratory conditions, so they have similar symptoms. A patient who has any of these conditions cough often. Because of this, specialists have a hard time diagnosing the reason for the cough.
Things can get considerably more confusing because patients with COPD have a debilitated framework because of their absence of oxygen. This means that you can have a cold or other respiratory diseases while also having COPD.
How Is COPD Different Than Other Respiratory Illnesses?
COPD is unique in comparison to other respiratory illnesses because it truly causes harm to the lungs. Illnesses like the cold or flu just irritate and contaminate the upper respiratory routes, making it hard to breath out of the nasal paths and throat. Pneumonia also contaminates the lungs; however, it is different from COPD because liquid develops in the lungs. These illnesses can cause coughing just like COPD.
In spite of the fact that coughing occurs among patients with COPD, it happens even though the bronchial tubes or the alveoli sacs of the lungs are harmed and breaking down. Not at all like other sicknesses, COPD is dynamic which implies that it slowly deteriorates. Rather than clearing up after some time, you will simply see an increasing number of symptoms.
Can You Tell If A Cough Is Caused by COPD?
A basic cough is not enough to diagnose with COPD. You might have to wait half a month and watch your cough to tell if it is caused by COPD or simply by a normal cold. A cough is just thought to be a chronic cough if it lasts for no less than three months. Normally, a cough caused by other typical ailments will clear up rapidly.
If you are coughing a great deal, you should check whether you are having any of the symptoms related with COPD. Symptoms of low oxygen, blue lips, weakness, are typically signs that your cough is caused by COPD. If your cough won’t go away or if you are experiencing other COPD symptoms, you should discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
Step by step instructions to Tell If You Have COPD
If you say yes to at least one of these questions, it is possible that you may have COPD.
- Do your breaths get short after taking short walks?
- Has your cough kept going over a month and is it worse in the morning?
- Does your chest feel tight when you relax?
- Is it difficult to relax?
- Are your coughs creating a great deal of bodily fluid?
- Do you hear a shrieking, squeaking, or wheezing sound when you breath?
- Is it accurate to say that you are drained regardless of the amount rest you get?
Restorative Tests That Diagnose COPD
If you think you have COPD, you can discuss taking diagnostic tests with your physician. These testing devices will determine whether you have COPD or if you are coughing for another reason.
- Blood oxygen testing – This test looks at an example of your blood to determine how much oxygen your lungs are adding to your blood. The majority of people with a cold will have typical oxygen levels, while individuals with COPD will have low levels.
- Imaging tests – Both CT sweeps and X-beams can analyze the inside of a patient’s chest. Emphysema changes the state of the lungs. An imaging test will be able to determine if the lungs look different.
- Lung work tests – Tests to determine how well the lungs are working are valuable to rule out different diseases. These tests work by measuring the air you breathe in and out. Some of them measure oxygen levels as well. A spirometry test is accurate to the point that it can identify COPD even if a patient is not demonstrating some of the symptoms of the disease yet.
If you have a cough that has lasted for awhile, then it is a good idea to make an appointment with your family doctor. Your doctor will help determine if your cough is because of COPD or from another illness.
