Lifestyle

Getting Out of Breath on the Stairs Isn’t Always About Age or Fitness. Signs of COPD to Know

By Curtis Jones · October 26, 2026

Plenty of people start taking the elevator, pausing halfway up a flight of stairs, or skipping a walk with friends and chalk it up to age or a few extra pounds. Sometimes the cause is in the lungs.

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is damage to the airways or other parts of the lung that blocks airflow and makes it hard to breathe, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The agency says it affects more than 14 million adults in the United States, and that many others do not know they have it. More than half of those diagnosed are women.

Part of the reason it goes unnoticed is that it comes on slowly. NHLBI says COPD may cause no symptoms or only mild ones at first, and that symptoms usually grow more serious as the disease gets worse. It even notes that people with mild symptoms may adjust their lives to make breathing easier, for example by taking the elevator instead of the stairs.

These are the common signs listed by NHLBI and MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine.

Shortness of breath, especially with activity. NHLBI says breathing may feel like it takes more effort, or like gasping for air. It calls persistent shortness of breath that gets worse over time the main symptom of COPD and advises telling a provider about it.

A cough that won’t go away. An ongoing cough, or one that brings up a lot of mucus, is often the first symptom, according to NHLBI’s symptoms page. It is sometimes called a smoker’s cough.

Wheezing. Both sources list a whistling or squeaky sound when breathing.

Chest tightness. NHLBI says a tight or heavy feeling in the chest can make it hard to take a deep breath or make breathing painful.

Fatigue. Extreme tiredness appears on both lists.

Frequent colds and flu. MedlinePlus says some people with COPD get frequent respiratory infections. In severe cases, it adds, COPD can cause weight loss, weakness in the lower muscles, and swelling in the ankles, feet and legs.

Smoking is the main risk factor. MedlinePlus says up to 75% of people who have COPD smoke or used to smoke, and NHLBI puts it at three out of four. Nonsmokers can get it too. According to NHLBI’s risk factor page, long-term exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke, chemical fumes and dust at work or in the environment, and smoke from cooking and heating fuels without ventilation can all raise the risk. A genetic condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can also cause the disease. MedlinePlus says most people with COPD are at least 40 when their symptoms begin.

The main test is spirometry, a breathing test that NHLBI says can detect COPD before symptoms are recognized. A provider will also ask about symptoms, smoking, and exposure to secondhand smoke, fumes or dust, and may order imaging such as a chest X-ray or CT scan.

There is no cure, but NHLBI says treatments and lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking can help people feel better, stay more active and slow the disease. It advises making an appointment as soon as symptoms appear rather than waiting for them to get serious.

Some situations call for 911, according to NHLBI: having a hard time catching your breath or talking, lips or fingernails turning blue or gray, not being mentally alert, a very fast heartbeat, or treatment that is not working.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about any breathing changes or symptoms. This article was produced with the assistance of AI and fact-checked against the sources cited by LightWave Reports.