What Are the Stages of COPD？ What Does That Mean for You?

A long-term inflammatory lung disease called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) progresses and is characterized by breathlessness and a persistent cough. Although smoking is the primary cause of COPD in 85–90% of cases, other factors such as exposure to secondhand smoke, air pollution, and industrial dust and fumes can also play a role. It is the third leading cause of death in the United States, affecting more than 15 million Americans.

To slow the disease’s progression and prevent serious complications, early detection of COPD is essential. To assess each individual’s COPD severity, doctors employ a system known as the GOLD criteria. there are four different stages of Mild, moderate, severe, and extremely severe COPD. The results of a breathing test known as spirometry, which evaluates lung function by calculating the volume of air you can inhale and exhale as well as how quickly and easily you can do so, will be used by your doctor to determine your stage. Along with your symptoms, they’ll take into account how frequently you experience episodes and how severe they are.

You can read more about the four stages of COPD in the following article.

What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD )?

A lung disease that worsens over time, COPD begins with mild symptoms. The importance of early diagnosis and treatment cannot be overstated.

Smokers and those over 40 are most likely to develop COPD. It’s estimated that about 174 million people have More than 3 million people die each year from COPD worldwide.

People with COPD frequently experience breathing difficulties, a chronic cough, and shortness of breath. Depending on how far it has advanced, COPD can be classified into stages or grades.

What is the GOLD System for Grading COPD?

The GOLD system bases the stage of your COPD on several things:

• Your symptoms
• How many times your COPD has gotten worse
• Any times you’ve had to stay in the hospital because your COPD has gotten worse
• Results from spirometry, a test that checks the amount of air and speed at that you can exhale

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease is known as GOLD. It was established in 1997 by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the National Institutes of Health, and the World Health Organization.

In order to develop more effective methods of preventing and treating this condition, GOLD collaborates with physicians and other health professionals to increase public awareness of COPD. It also establishes the standards that most medical professionals use to categorize and treat COPD.

A spirometer test involves exhaling into a machine called a spirometer. How quickly and forcefully you can exhale is measured by the machine.

Your force vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) will be measured by your doctor. Your FVC is the total amount of air you can breathe out and FEV1 is the amount you breathe out in one second. For a COPD diagnosis, you must have an FEV1/FVC ratio that is lower than 0.7.

Your doctor will assign a grade to your spirometry results, ranging from grade 1 (least severe) to grade 4 (most severe). These levels correspond to the old system’s stages 1 through 4 of COPD.

The British Medical Research Council (mMRC) questionnaire or the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) will be used by your healthcare provider to gauge the severity of your symptoms.

What Are the 4 Stages of COPD？

Stage 1: Mild COPD

Shortness of breath and an ongoing cough that occasionally produces mucus are the primary signs of stage 1 COPD. You might not even be aware that you are experiencing these symptoms, though, because they are so mild.

Damage to the lungs still takes place even though stage 1 COPD symptoms are simple to overlook. If you have any concerns that you may have COPD, speak with your doctor about an assessment. And if you smoke, try to stop as soon as you can to keep your lungs healthy.

Your doctor might also recommend a bronchodilator drug, typically administered through an inhaler, which relaxes airway muscles to improve breathing in addition to quitting smoking. Common side effects include dry mouth, dizziness, tremors, runny nose, and throat irritation. If you experience severe side effects like blurry vision, a rapid or irregular heart rate, or an allergic reaction with a rash or swelling, contact your healthcare provider.

Stage 2: Moderate COPD

In this stage, previously existing symptoms from stage 1 intensify as airflow limitations progress. Physical activity makes breathing difficulties more apparent, and coughing and mucus production may become more frequent. Wheezing, fatigue, and sleep issues are some additional symptoms.

This is often the stage where you may first become aware of symptoms and seek treatment. Your doctor may prescribe a bronchodilator medication if they haven’t already, along with recommending breathing exercises. You can reduce the amount of effort required during physical activity and maintain an active lifestyle by using techniques like pursed lip breathing and coordinated breathing.

Depending on how serious your condition is, your doctor visits will vary in frequency. The frequency of monitoring will depend on how severe your symptoms are; if they are mild, you might have follow-up appointments every six months.

Stage 3: Severe COPD

The lung’s capacity has significantly declined by stage 3. It gets harder to inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide as the lungs’ air sac walls continue to deteriorate.

Shortness of breath has gotten worse, coughing or wheezing happens more frequently, and you may produce thicker mucus. These were previously mild symptoms that have gotten worse and are more obvious.

You may also experience the following symptoms:

• Extreme fatigue or weakness
• Feelings of confusion or forgetfulness
• Swelling of the ankles, feet and legs
• Tightness in the chest
• More frequent chest infections

Stage 4: Very Severe COPD

Lung function is extremely poor in stage 4 of COPD. The signs and symptoms in stage three get worse and last longer. Everyday activities cause chest tightness and shortness of breath, making it difficult to breathe at all. Hospitalizations for breathing complications, lung infections, or respiratory failure are common during stage 4 COPD, and sudden flare-ups can be life-threatening.

Other symptoms of stage 4 COPD include:

• A crackling sound when you breathe in
• Barrel chest
• Delirium
• An irregular or fast heartbeat
• Weight loss
• Pulmonary hypertension, a form of high blood pressure that affects the arteries in your lungs and the right side of your heart

Severe COPD symptoms can be managed with a variety of therapies, such as supplemental oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, and oral, intravenous, or inhaled steroids. Inflammation of the mouth and airways, weakened muscles, loss of weight, exhaustion, and an increased risk of pneumonia are all possible side effects of steroids. To learn more about how to manage side effects from medication, read our prior blog. If you still have questions or concerns, consult your doctor.

Conclusion

Your lung function’s decline from stage 1 to stage 4 was used to categorize COPD in the past. In order to assess your risk for COPD, doctors now combine the results of lung function tests with arbitrary measures of the severity of your symptoms.

The most crucial action you can take to increase your life expectancy and outlook after receiving a diagnosis of COPD is to stop smoking.

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