Coughing every morning until I went for a walk with my dog. It has been over 2 years now and the coughing and gagging are there every morning. Only getting into the fresh air helps. I am 63 and quit smoking in 1995. I am also a career military and have been exposed to many terrible chemical solvents.

I am a 50 year old female that was diagnosed with COPD last year. I smoked for 30 years. I thought I was having a heart attack and my primary physician sent me to have a stress test. I have a perfectly normal heart. It feels like I have a weight on my chest that is hard to lift when I try to breathe in and out. I use inhalers and multiple sinus medications. I quit smoking! It scares me to think that my life will be shortened because of smoking and I work in a hospital and know what it is like when someone cannot breathe. Please quit now if you still smoke as this will help your COPD the most.

I am a 55-year-young female. About two years ago I was diagnosed with having the beginning signs of COPD. I was frequently short of breath, couldn't walk long distances, used a shopping cart to move through stores, and any sudden movement would cause me to panic and wet my pants. I am very susceptible to smells; things like gasoline, engine fumes, paint, bleach, and other air pollutants cut my breath short causing me to gasp for air and wet my pants. It's happening more frequently now. The change of weather also affects my breathing. Hot days the air is too thin and I struggle to breathe. Cold days are good but uncomfortable to linger in for fear of catching a cold or a virus. First rains are bad. Second and third rains are better. I'm learning to cope with this disability. I regret ever smoking.