Respiratory diseases include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonia, and lung cancer. Also called lung disorder and pulmonary disease.

Evidence suggests that there is a relationship between previous respiratory disease (PRD), including chronic bronchitis, emphysema, tuberculosis, and pneumonia, and lung cancer diagnoses (2). Tobacco is a shared risk factor of PRD and lung cancer.

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are diseases of the airways and other structures of the lung. Some of the most common are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, occupational lung diseases and pulmonary hypertension.

Common Respiratory Disease Symptoms

• Difficulty Breathing. While it’s common to feel a shortness of breath during exercise, if it doesn’t go away—or is present when you aren’t exerting yourself—you should be concerned.
• Stubborn Cough.
• Breathing Noisily.
• Lingering Chest Pain.
• Chronic Mucus.
• Coughing Up Blood.

Supplemental oxygen is typically needed if you have end-stage COPD (stage 4). The use of any of these treatments is likely to increase significantly from stage 1 (mild COPD) to stage 4.

The following are signs that may indicate that a person’s COPD is getting worse.

• Increased Shortness of Breath.
• Wheezing.
• Changes in Phlegm.
• Worsening Cough.
• Fatigue and Muscle Weakness.
• Edema.
• Feeling Groggy When You Wake Up.

Mild COPD or Stage 1—Mild COPD with a FEV1 about 80 percent or more of normal. Moderate COPD or Stage 2—Moderate COPD with a FEV1 between 50 and 80 percent of normal. Severe COPD or Stage 3—Severe emphysema with a FEV1 between 30 and 50 percent of normal.

Drugs for coughing Short- or long-acting inhaled beta-agonists such as albuterol or salmeterol (Serevent Diskus) will sometimes help decrease coughing. Beta-agonists are a type of bronchodilator that helps open your airways and get more oxygen into your lungs.

Symptoms of End-Stage COPD If you’re at end stage, you’ll probably feel constantly out of breath and without energy. Flare-ups called exacerbations can come on more often and without warning. These episodes can be deadly. Even if you recover, your lungs may be in worse shape than before.

Symptoms of late-stage COPD

• frequent coughing accompanied by chest pain.
• frequent infections and flares.
• difficulty falling and staying asleep.
• loss of appetite.
• weight loss.
• constipation.
• incontinence.
• poor circulation, which can cause cold hands, arms, feet, and legs, plus blotchy skin.

For former smokers, the reduction in life expectancy from COPD is: stage 2: 1.4 years. stage 3 or 4: 5.6 years.

Fatigue (tiredness) and disturbed sleep are common as lung disease progresses. Fatigue may be due to a combination of anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and low-calorie intake. Lack of sleep may also be caused by symptoms, such as breathlessness, pain, and coughing, which disturbs sleep.