Respiratory Symptoms That Won't Go Away: When Could It Be More Than COPD?
If you're still coughing every day — you are not alone.
Why Am I Still Coughing?
A nagging cough is one of the first signs of COPD, and for some people, it never fully goes away. It is the kind of cough that brings up mucus and can change from day to day. Over time, many people start to assume it is just part of living with COPD — but that's not always the whole story. If respiratory symptoms, like cough, are getting worse despite treatment, there may be another condition involved.
One condition that can get missed in people with COPD is called bronchiectasis (pronounced: brong-kee-ek-tuh-suhs). Bronchiectasis (BE) is a serious lung condition where the airways become damaged and widened, making it hard to clear mucus. BE is a chronic and progressive disease, which means it can affect you long-term and may get worse over time, potentially causing lung damage. The main factors associated with BE include inflammation, difficulty clearing mucus from the lungs, lung infection, and lung damage.
COPD Symptoms: What to Watch For
Common symptoms of COPD and other respiratory conditions can include difficult breathing, a persistent cough, and mucus production. When symptoms like these persist or get worse over time despite ongoing treatment, additional assessment may be helpful to determine if it’s something more. Here are some signs that unresolved respiratory symptoms could be something more:
- Wet, productive cough that won't go away
- Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, or wheezing
- Fatigue that keeps coming back
- Coughing up a lot of mucus that looks yellow or green
- Repeated lung infections
- Chest pain
Why Do My Symptoms Keep Flaring Up?
If your respiratory symptoms keep persisting, speaking with a doctor is important. Your doctor might order other tests, like a chest CT, to investigate the worsening symptoms. This is worth investigating because research shows that more than 1 in 4 people with COPD may also have bronchiectasis. People with both conditions may have more symptoms, infections, and hospital visits. This matters because each condition is treated differently — and treating one without knowing about the other could mean missing important care.
Answers Are Out There
Living with persistent respiratory symptoms can be difficult to manage, but you don't have to walk this path alone - AmbitCare can help. Our questionnaire takes less than 5 minutes to complete. From there, you'll be matched with an Ambit Guide - a real person who will help connect you with educational resources and support you as you learn about other conditions similar to COPD, like bronchiectasis. Take the questionnaire to get started.
Please note that while AmbitCare can help you better understand what educational resources are available, they are not licensed medical providers and thus can neither diagnose any disease or disorder nor endorse or recommend any specific medical treatments. We encourage you to speak with your doctor if you have questions about your medical condition.
