Mild COPD
The first symptoms of COPD usually start slowly and can be very mild. At first, you may not have symptoms all the time, and they might not affect your life much. You might cough up mucus in the mornings or feel more breathless than usual if you walk fast or do something strenuous.
Moderate COPD
As COPD gets worse, you might notice symptoms almost every day. You might find it harder to do normal daily things, like gardening, hanging out the washing, or carrying groceries, without getting breathless. You might also have a cough that keeps coming back and more phlegm, which is often thick and white or brownish. Feeling tired and getting more chest infections, or taking longer to get better from being sick, can also happen in this moderate stage.
Severe COPD
With severe COPD, you’ll probably have symptoms most of the time. You might find it very hard to walk upstairs or across the room without getting very breathless. You might always feel tired, even after resting, and cough a lot with much more mucus. It’s common to feel frustrated because you constantly need to clear mucus from your airways. You might also get frequent chest infections that take weeks to recover from.
My COPD checklist
Use our checklist as a quick and easy way to understand which parts of your COPD care are going well and where you can improve. You’ll get a personalised report with tips to help you manage your condition better or support someone you love.
Respiratory Care Nurse Service
Our Respiratory Care Nurse Service is for people living with COPD or bronchiectasis. Our nurse can give you advice about your condition, based on the latest guidelines. To make a free phone appointment, call the Information and Support Centre on 1800 654 301. It’s a free call from landlines and most mobiles in Australia. Alternatively, you can use the link below to book online.
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