Diagnosing COPD

If you are having COPD symptoms like getting short of breath, coughing that may bring up sputum (mucus or phlegm), or chest tightness, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider to see if your symptoms are because of COPD.

To diagnose COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, your healthcare provider will review your symptoms, ask for your complete health history, conduct a physical exam and look at test results.

After your first visit, your provider will determine your level of severity and create a treatment plan. At each follow up visit, you and your provider will talk about symptoms, risk for COPD flare ups or exacerbations, and make changes to your treatment plan as needed.  

Health History and Physical Exam

Your healthcare provider will take a detailed health history and conduct a physical exam if your provider suspects you may have COPD. You will be asked for some medical history, which should include: 

• Current or past smoking history
• Exposure to secondhand smoke; air pollution; prior history working with chemicals, dust or fumes; and a history of childhood respiratory infection

• History of exacerbations or flare ups including hospitalizations
• Symptoms such as shortness of breath, chronic cough, or coughing up mucus (sputum or phlegm)
• Family members diagnosed with COPD,  alpha-1 deficiency or another chronic lung disease
• Impact of on how symptoms have changed your daily life. Include changes to your activities or missed work
• Times when symptoms get worse such as change of season, weather, or other triggers
• Other comorbidities like heart disease, osteoporosis, anxiety, or depression 

Testing for COPD

There are breathing tests or lung function tests your healthcare provider may perform. These breathing tests can be done in your provider’s office while other tests may be done in a pulmonary function testing lab.