Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease history and symptoms
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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Microchapters |
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Differentiating Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from other Diseases |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Philip Marcus, M.D., M.P.H. [2]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]
Overview
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a group of diseases that can present with symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, persistent cough and sputum production.
History and Symptoms
The main symptoms of COPD include:
- Prolonged Dyspnea (shortness of breath) lasting for months or perhaps years\
- Possibly, accompanied by wheezing
- Persistent cough with sputum production.[1] It is possible the sputum may contain blood (hemoptysis), usually due to damage of the blood vessels of the airways.
Severe COPD could lead to:
- Cyanosis (bluish decolorization usually in the lips and fingers) caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood
- In extreme cases it could lead to cor pulmonale due the extra work required by the heart to get blood to flow through the lungs.[2]