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

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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.  

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).