The signs and symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) include:

• Cough
• Sputum (mucus) production
• Shortness of breath, especially with exercise
• Wheezing (a whistling or squeaky sound when you breathe)
• Chest tightness

A cough that doesn't go away and coughing up lots of mucus are common signs of COPD. These often occur years before the flow of air in and out of the lungs is reduced. However, not everyone with a cough and sputum production goes on to develop COPD, and not everyone with COPD has a cough.

Severity of the symptoms depends on how much of the lung has been destroyed. If you continue to smoke, the lung destruction is faster than if you stop smoking.