In COPD, how would you characterize dyspnea?

• A. A non-progressive symptom
• B. Only occurs at night
• C. Progressive difficulty breathing that may be present at rest or with exertion
• D. Is unrelated to disease progression

Answer: (C)

In COPD, dyspnea is a chronic, progressive symptom that reflects increasing airflow limitation and gas exchange impairment. Early in the disease, breathlessness tends to appear with activity as the lungs struggle to meet heightened ventilatory demands. As the condition advances, dyspnea can become present even at rest due to more severe obstruction and dynamic hyperinflation, making breathing more work all the time. It is not a non-progressive symptom, it is not confined to nighttime, and it does relate to disease progression. So the best description is that dyspnea is progressive difficulty breathing that may be present at rest or with exertion.