Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production and wheezing. What Are COPD Symptoms? Chronic cough. Shortness of breath while doing everyday activities (dyspnea) Frequent respiratory infections. Blueness of the lips or fingernail beds (cyanosis) Fatigue. Producing a lot of mucus (also called phlegm or sputum) Wheezing.