What are the signs & symptoms of COPD?

Take the Canadian Lung Health Test

If you are older than 40 years of age and are a current or ex-smoker, take this simple test:

1. Do you cough regularly?

2. Do you cough up phlegm regularly?

3. Do even simple chores make you short of breath?

4. Do you wheeze when you exert yourself, or at night?

5. Do you get frequent colds that persist longer than those of other people you know?

If you answered "yes" to any one of the above questions, you should discuss your results with your doctor. He or she may want to send you for a simple breathing test called 'spirometry.'

Of course, the best way to find out if you have COPD is to talk with your doctor. He or she will conduct a full physical exam, assess your symptoms, your family and smoking history, and test your breathing by measuring your exhalations.

 
Who is affected by COPD?

The average Canadian with COPD is 65 years old and has a long history of smoking or breathing secondhand smoke. Many cases of COPD go undiagnosed because people assume that their limited breathing is simply a sign of aging. COPD affects both men and women and gets worse over time.