Long-term exposure to pollutants
Indoor and outdoor pollutants can cause COPD in people who don’t smoke. Air pollution inside the home is the most common cause of COPD among people who don’t smoke. Pollutants that can lead to COPD include: secondhand cigarette smoke.
Furthermore, how can I test myself for COPD?
It’s simple and painless. You will be asked to take a deep breath, and you’ll blow hard into a mouthpiece that’s connected to a small machine. That machine, called the spirometer, measures how fast you blow air out of your lungs. Results can tell you whether you have COPD, even if you haven’t gotten symptoms yet.
Beside above, what are the early warning signs of COPD?
Signs and symptoms of COPD may include:
- Shortness of breath, especially during physical activities.
- Wheezing.
- Chest tightness.
- A chronic cough that may produce mucus (sputum) that may be clear, white, yellow or greenish.
- Frequent respiratory infections.
- Lack of energy.
- Unintended weight loss (in later stages)