An elderly man sitting on a bench outside.

Understand the link between COPD symptoms and inflammation

COPD symptoms can affect your daily routine and your long-term plans, but with the right management and understanding, they don’t have to.¹

Know more about how to recognise when your management plan isn’t doing enough.

What is COPD?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a long-term condition. It is when the air cannot get out of the lungs easily, because the airway is blocked (obstructed) or damaged but can also have many different symptoms and effects. This means each person living with COPD experiences it differently. Many things including genetics, lung damage from smoking or pollution, and more can cause it.²

Symptoms of COPD

Everyday symptoms include:

Getting short of breath easily when doing activities like going for a walk or doing housework
Waking up during the night feeling breathless or generally having shortness of breath
Having a chesty cough that lasts a long time with or without phlegm (mucus)
Wheezing

This may not be a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms of COPD. Always consult your healthcare professional if you experience any of these symptoms, as they can help you determine the cause.

What is Sanofi doing in COPD?

Sanofi are committed to supporting the COPD community and improving the lives of people living with the condition across the UK. Our disease awareness campaign, #BreatheEqual, focuses on raising awareness of COPD across the UK and highlighting the inequalities that exist in respiratory care nationwide. Through this campaign, we aim to drive greater understanding, advocacy, and action to ensure everyone with COPD receives the care they deserve. You can find out more about our #BreatheEqual campaign by clicking below.

Learn more

Inflammation & COPD symptoms

Inflammation in the lungs can cause COPD symptoms, which can result in difficulty breathing and the build-up of phlegm. These symptoms can be made worse by various triggers, such as recent infections or exposure to airborne toxins like smoke.^5,6

An elderly woman looking out the window of her house.

COPD symptoms can get worse

Without proper management of COPD, symptoms can get progressively worse over time, and therefore it is important to keep track and manage everyday symptoms. If these symptoms suddenly worsen, this is called an exacerbation.^7,9

Your doctor can identify how far your COPD has progressed by assessing the stage and group of your disease using the GOLD report.⁴ Generally, the higher the stage and group, the more advanced your COPD will be.

Learn more on the different stages of COPD and their associated symptoms

Learn about your own COPD

It is important to track everyday symptoms to help you notice any changes. Self-assessment can help you start a conversation with your healthcare professional about your condition and how you can take positive steps to help manage your everyday symptoms.

Complete the COPD questionnaire

A doctor in consultation listening attentively to her patient

COPD References

What can you do to manage your COPD? Asthma + Lung UK. May 2022. Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/what-can-you-do-manage-your-copd Date accessed: Oct 2025.
What is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)? Asthma + Lung UK. May 2022. Available at: https://www.asthmaandlung.org.uk/conditions/copd-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/what-chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease Date accessed: Oct 2025.
How should I diagnose an acute exacerbation of COPD? NICE CKS. May 2024. Available at: https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease/diagnosis/diagnosis-acute-exacerbation/ Date accessed: Oct 2025.
Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease 2024 Report. GOLD. 2024. Available at: https://goldcopd.org/2024-gold-report/ Date Accessed: Oct 2025.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. A Quick Guide On Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Mar 2022. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/resources/quick-guide-copd Date accessed: Oct 2025.
Oishi K, et al. J Clin Med. 2020;(8):2670.
Kerkhof M, et al. International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. 2020:15
Prevent and Recover from a COPD Exacerbation or Flare Up. American Lung Association. Jul 2024. Available at: Prevent a COPD Exacerbation or Flare Up | American Lung Association Date accessed: Oct 2025.
Support for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. House of Commons Library. Nov 2021. Available at: Support for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - House of Commons Library Date accessed: Oct 2025.