Symptoms of COPD and Other Lung Diseases You Shouldn’t Ignore

Often attributed to routine illnesses or age, these symptoms could signal something more serious

Rachel Nania,

AARP

Comments

En español

Published November 14, 2022

/ Updated August 06, 2024

Older woman wearing a gray scarf and dress sitting on a bench holding her chest due to tightness and shortness of breath

PIKSEL / Getty Images

David Lynch’s recent revelation that he has been diagnosed with emphysema is casting a new spotlight on the lung disease that is often, though not always, caused by smoking — a habit the Twin Peaks director said he ‘enjoyed … very much.’

Emphysema, also referred to as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), occurs when the lung tissue is damaged to the point where it becomes harder to breathe and keep the body properly oxygenated. Some of the early warning signs include shortness of breath, coughing up mucus and wheezing and chest tightness, according to the American Lung Association.

At first these symptoms can be easy to overlook or mistake for another common ailment — especially during COVID-19 surges or cold and flu season. But doctors warn that they shouldn’t be ignored.

“If symptoms are short-lived, then maybe it’s nothing. But if they go on, don’t just chalk it up to something like an infection. It may be something more serious,” says Jessica S. Wang Memoli, M.D., a pulmonologist and director of Bronchoscopy & Interventional Pulmonary at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.

If you do have a lung disease like COPD, an early diagnosis means earlier access to treatments, which may forestall additional lung function loss. Here are three warning signs to pay attention to.

1. Shortness of breath

While it’s true that lung function declines with age, meaning breathing may gradually become more difficult, sudden shortness of breath during routine activities is not normal. So if you notice that you’re out of breath out of the blue, that’s a sign you should see a doctor.

“If you were able to walk up a couple flights of stairs a couple of weeks ago, and then today you just feel more winded, that could be a sign that maybe something else is going on,” Wang Memoli says.

If your breathing is noisy — you’re wheezing — that’s another red flag. Also, pay attention to an overall low-energy feeling, which can be a warning sign of lung disease, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

2. A cough that won’t go away — and won’t get better

It’s not uncommon for a routine respiratory infection to cause a cough that sticks around for a few weeks — maybe even longer. But if your cough prevails and doesn’t get better over time, “then it’s something to be a little bit more concerned about,” Wang Memoli says.

The American Lung Association recommends getting checked out if you have a cough that lasts more than eight weeks. Also, see a doctor if you’re coughing up mucus or phlegm for more than a month. Coughing up blood is another sign that shouldn’t be ignored, says Gerard J. Criner, M.D., director of Temple Lung Center in Philadelphia.

3. Chest pain or tightness

While often thought of as a cardiovascular issue, pain or tightness in the chest can be related to pulmonary complications, Wang Memoli says.

A sharp stabbing pain that hits when you breathe in or cough could point to pneumonia. And chest tightness is a common symptom of COPD, which is when the airways become damaged (less air flows in and out), making it hard to breathe. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two most common conditions that contribute to COPD.

Spotting symptoms early could improve treatment odds

Many conditions that fall under the lung disease umbrella are treatable or manageable with medications and other therapies, Wang Memoli says. In some cases, like with lung cancer, the second most common cancer in the U.S., early detection “results in improvement in survival,” Criner says. Finding lung cancer early, when it’s more curable, can decrease mortality by up to 20 percent, research shows.

And in other diseases, like COPD, which affects some 16 million Americans, “if you intercede and treat patients, they have a much better quality of life,” Criner adds. Treatment for COPD may include medicines like bronchodilators to relax the muscles around the airways and steroids to reduce inflammation. Some people with COPD may also receive oxygen therapy.

During an evaluation, your doctor will likely ask about your work history and other possible exposures, since everything from air pollution to smoking can cause lung disease.

“Someone who spent their lifetime working in construction, with or without good protection, is at risk for occupational lung disease,” says Jamie Garfield, M.D., a volunteer medical spokesperson for the American Lung Association and a professor of thoracic medicine and surgery at Temple Lung Center. “So if they develop the cough in their 60s … I would be suspicious for the beginning symptoms of an occupational lung disease,” Garfield adds.

Your doctor may use a machine called a spirometer to measure how much air you can breathe in and out. This test is commonly used to help diagnose asthma and COPD. A chest X-ray can also help your doctor see what’s happening in the lungs.

Lower your risk of lung disease

You can do some things to lower your risk for developing lung diseases, health experts say. If you smoke, quit. Doing so is “very difficult,” Garfield acknowledges, but “your doctor has resources available to help.”

And if you are 50 or older and are, or used to be, a heavy smoker, talk to your doctor about getting screened for lung cancer, Wang Memoli says. Screening recommendations from the American Cancer Society recently changed to include adults ages 50 to 80 (ACS) who currently smoke or used to smoke the equivalent of one pack a day for 20 years, no matter how long ago they quit.

Also, test for radon (a colorless, odorless gas known to cause lung cancer) in your home, and steer clear of asbestos, dust and chemical fumes. And since some lung diseases are caused by germs, be sure to keep up with handwashing and stay up-to-date on your vaccines, including shots for flu and COVID-19. Health officials also recommend that people 65 and older get a pneumococcal vaccine, which can help protect against pneumonia.

The take-home message, Wang Memoli says, is that “if [your symptoms] are significant enough where they’re bothering you, don’t ignore them.”

Women and lung disease

The number of women in the U.S. diagnosed with lung disease, and dying from lung disease, is on the rise. Here’s what you need to know:

Three of the most common lung diseases in women are asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
In every year since 2000, more women than men have died from COPD.
In 2018, chronic lower respiratory disease, primarily COPD, was the fourth leading cause of death among women.
The percentage of women, especially young women, with asthma is rising in the U.S., and the reason is unclear to researchers.
In the U.S., more women now die from lung cancer than from any other type of cancer.

Source: U.S. Office on Women’s Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Editor's note: This story, originally published Nov. 14, 2022, has been updated to reflect new information.

%{postComment}%