1.Cough
Cough is the first sign of COPD. COPD is diagnosed if your cough is persistent for three months (or longer) out of a year for at least two years. The cough may persist every day, even if there are no other symptoms of illness, such as a cold or the flu.
A cough is how the body removes mucus from the airways and the lungs and clears them of other irritants (such as dust or pollen) and secretions. Usually the mucus people cough up is clear, but it’s often a yellow color in people with COPD. The cough is usually worse early in the morning, and you may cough more when you exercise or smoke.