• Acute Exacerbations: Acute exacerbations of COPD manifest as sudden increase in the intensity of existing symptoms like cough, mucus production, shortness of breathing and wheezing.
• Respiratory Infections: Patients with COPD tend to get infected easily and are more prone to suffer from flu, common colds, etc. which further deteriorate the lungs.
• Pneumonia: Like other infections, bacterial infections lead to Pneumonia in patients with COPD, which can lead to severe damage to lungs, even causing respiratory failure.
• Pulmonary Hypertension: COPD can lead to high blood pressure of arteries carrying blood to the lungs, which is known as Pulmonary Hypertension.
• Heart Disease: COPD greatly increases the risk of heart diseases and even heart attacks.
• Lung Cancer: The chances of developing lung cancer increase more in smokers with COPD than in smokers without COPD.
• Depression: Symptoms of COPD tend to decrease the work efficiency of the patient and possibly restricting him to do certain activities. Depression can occur in anyone who suffers from a serious long-term illness.
• Adrenal Crisis: In patients on long term use of steroids, there is a possibility of an adrenal crisis. Adrenal Crisis is a term given to a group of symptoms caused due to imbalance in hormone levels of the body. Symptoms include severe lethargy, fever, convulsions, confusion or psychosis, vomiting and diarrhoea leading to dehydration, loss of consciousness, inability to stand, etc., elevated levels of potassium and calcium, decreased levels of sodium and sugar, hypothyroidism, etc.