Most people who are at risk of getting COPD have never even heard of it and, in many cases, don't even realize that the condition has a name.

People with COPD can suffer from increasing shortness of breath, coughing and an increase in secretions from their lungs such as mucus. COPD is a progressive disease, which means the symptoms are likely to get worse over time.

If you can answer YES to 3 or more of these questions, you may have COPD.

• Do you cough several times most days?
• Do you bring up phlegm or mucous most days?
• Do you get out of breath more easily than others your age?
• Are you over 40 years old?
• Are you a smoker or ex-smoker?

It's not normal to be out of breath.  If you answered YES to three or more of the above questions, you should speak to your doctor about a lung function (spirometry) test.

Severity of COPD

• If your symptoms are not affecting you much, it is called mild COPD
• If your symptoms are getting bad, it is called moderate COPD
• If your symptoms are very bad, it is called severe COPD

Mild COPD

Moderate COPD

In moderate COPD, you are likely to notice symptoms almost every day. You may:

• cough more, and cough up mucus
• often feel very puffed or out of breath if you exert yourself or walk quickly
• have trouble working or doing chores because you get out of breath
• take several weeks to recover from a cold or chest infection.

Severe COPD

In severe COPD, you may be short of breath during normal daily activities such as taking a shower or getting the mail from the letterbox. Severe COPD can have a big impact on your life.

You may:

• find it hard to walk up stairs or across the room without getting very out of breath
• get tired easily
• not be able to continue to work or do chores around your home
• be frustrated with the constant need to clear mucus from your chest
• cough even more and cough up a lot of mucus
• get chest infections more often
• take several weeks to recover from a cold or chest infection.

Content updated October 22, 2010