Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a dangerous disease with no cure. Found mainly in smokers, COPD cannot be completely cured by any medication. So, it's important to be aware of the initial signs or symptoms of COPD and consult your physician before its too late.

When the respiratory system in the body is damaged, the body tries to compensate in its own ways. The symptoms we observe are the results of these attempts of the body. In most cases, chain smoking can be the first real symptom of COPD. If you've been smoking for a long time, you could be on the brink of COPD.

One of the telling symptoms of COPD is the change in the shape of the chest, known as barrel chest. When a person with COPD tries to do lift his arms above the chest, he feels breathlessness. To compensate, those affected by COPD often sit leaning forward, resting their arms on something. Another key symptom is shortness of breath, usually referred to as dyspnea.

A chronic cough is another telltale symptom of COPD. It usually begins in the morning, and gradually increases during the day. But this change is slow and could take years before the affected person actually notices it. The cough usually produces small amounts of sputum that is clear, whitish or discolored. If the intensity of the disease is very high, the sputum may be accompanied by small amounts of blood. This symptom is called hemoptysis.

In those affected with COPD, a pitched sound can be heard while breathing. This is the sound of air passing through narrowed airways. One more symptom of COPD is weight loss. A person affected with COPD spends lot of calories in very simple activities like breathing; thus, the weight is lost rather quickly.

Irrespective of whether you have these signs are not, if you are a chain smoker, it's better to get examined by your physician on a regular basis. Because the earlier the disease is detected, the easier it will be to control it.