What complications are associated most commonly with COPD?

COPD can cause many complications, including:

• Respiratory infections. People with COPD are more likely to catch colds, the flu and pneumonia.
• Heart problems.
• Lung cancer.
• High blood pressure in lung arteries.
• Depression.

How does COPD affect the musculoskeletal system?

Skeletal muscle dysfunction is very common in patients with COPD, and may play an important role in limiting exercise performance in these patients. Muscle strength and endurance are both decreased and the muscle is more easily fatigued. Muscle atrophy is largely responsible for the reduction in muscle strength.

How does COPD cause pneumothorax?

Collapsed Lung (Pneumothorax) COPD can damage lung tissue. And if air leaks into the space between a lung and your chest wall, that lung can collapse like a deflated balloon.

Does COPD cause edema?

With chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you may develop peripheral edema (fluid retention), which is swelling of the feet, ankles, and legs. Leg swelling can limit your activity and be physically uncomfortable. It is also a sign of advancing COPD.

Can COPD cause speech problems?

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, these and other COPD symptoms can cause havoc on the throat and vocal cords, causing problems like voice, communication and swallowing disorders.

What muscles are affected with COPD?

Peripheral muscles in COPD Although the function of both upper and lower limb muscles can be impaired in COPD patients (24,32,47,72,73), the level of dysfunction is not necessarily the same. In fact, leg muscles appear to be more severely affected than those located in the upper limbs (69,74).

Can COPD make your muscles hurt?

The cause of COPD pain is difficult to determine They are not meant to be used every day. So, chronic use of these muscles may cause them to become sore. Muscles may also become sore from coughing.

What are the cardiac consequences of long term COPD?

Pulmonary vascular disease associated with COPD increases morbidity and worsens survival (1, 3–8). Patients with COPD also carry an increased risk of mortality due to arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, or congestive heart failure compared with those who do not (2, 3, 9).

What do the last days of COPD look like?

End-stage COPD is marked by severe shortness of breath (dyspnea), even when at rest. At this stage, medications typically don’t work as well as they had in the past. Everyday tasks will leave you more breathless.