General information, not an individual diagnosis. Ask a healthcare professional if you are unsure about your situation.
A cough with sputum that becomes frequent, breathlessness on exertion and repeated bouts of bronchitis can suggest chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. They do not establish the diagnosis. Seek medical assessment instead of putting these symptoms down solely to ageing.
COPD can progress for a long time without very obvious symptoms. Difficulty initially limited to strenuous effort can later affect small everyday activities. A history of smoking is important to report, even after quitting.
A doctor asks questions, examines you and may request spirometry, which measures breathing. This test helps confirm airway obstruction. A questionnaire or personal impression does not replace assessment; do not assume that the test is performed at the pharmacy.
Prepare concrete examples: slower walking, stops on stairs, how often you bring up sputum and episodes of bronchitis. Explain when the changes began and your smoking history. These observations help the doctor assess the impact of breathlessness.
Contact your doctor promptly for rapid deterioration, a worse cough or fever in someone receiving COPD care. Severe breathing difficulty, blue lips, confusion or difficulty finishing sentences requires a call to 15 or 112, without waiting a set number of hours.
Keep examination reports and your questions for medical follow-up. A discussion about habits or support for stopping smoking can complement this pathway. Our Mon bilan prévention page describes general prevention; it does not diagnose COPD.
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Mon bilan prévention is an appointment to discuss your habits and choose your health priorities. Review the four age groups and practical information.