Shortness of Breath
The main symptom of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is dyspnea, or shortness of breath. Many people will overlook feeling short of breath and thus miss the early warning signs of COPD. While no two people seem to experience dyspnea and other COPD symptoms the same way, most patients say that the shortness of breath makes them feel like they are gasping for air or have to labor very hard to inhale and exhale. Others experience air hunger, where no amount of respiration is enough.
At the start of the condition, you might only notice shortness of breath during exercises that never used to bother you. As the disease progresses, the dyspnea will become worse, until even a simple walk around the block is tiring. Some people will have difficulty climbing up and down the stairs of their home.
