5 Warning Signs Your COPD Is Getting Worse

1. 5 Warning Signs Your COPD Is Getting Worse We have prepared a checklist of seven warning signs that could mean that your COPD is worsening. If you experience any of these and haven’t joined a program for pulmonary rehabilitation for COPD, we suggest you do it immediately to access resources to help manage your condition better. Shortness of Breath If you find it difficult to walk on a slight incline or climb a few stairs, you need to talk to your healthcare provider about it. If the breathlessness is relatively mild, your doctor can help you manage the symptoms by adding medicines or increasing the dose of your medications. If it worsens, you may need to visit the emergency room for hospitalization If You See Changes in Phlegm Due to exacerbations, there could be a rise in the amount of phlegm produced by the body, and you may also notice a color change, from clear to green or yellow. A change in its color could indicate some lung infection that needs medical attention. If Your Wheezing Gets Worse When the airway becomes narrow, it can cause wheezing in people with COPD. It is typically a high-pitched whistling noise that you hear while breathing. If you feel like your wheezing is getting worse, it could indicate an exacerbation. Muscle Weakness and Fatigue Fatigue is also a result of inflammation that may leak out to the rest of the body, leading to muscle weakness. Hence, experiencing it would be a warning sign, which may require a doctor’s expert opinion. If Your Cough Gets Worse If you experience a new onset of cough or witness a worsening cough that’s persistent for a couple of weeks. In that case it needs to be checked immediately by a doctor. Typically, a chest x-ray will show how worse the COPD has gotten. Wrapping Up Life with COPD is not easy, but it can be managed effectively and lead a decent life. Join a Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Program to learn more about your condition and access resources such as exercise training, support, and counseling to help minimize the risk of worsening your COPD. The Home Rehabilitation Network