Patients experiencing shortness of breath due to COPD might display which common symptom?

Wheezing is a common symptom observed in patients experiencing shortness of breath due to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). It arises from the narrowing of the airways, which leads to turbulent airflow during breathing. This phenomenon produces the characteristic high-pitched whistling sound known as wheezing, particularly during expiration. Patients with COPD often struggle to exhale fully, resulting in air trapping and increased resistance within the airways, which contributes to this symptom.

In contrast, rapid heart rate might occur due to various stressors or underlying conditions in COPD patients but is not as definitive as wheezing when identifying exacerbations of COPD. Severe abdominal pain and high fever are not typical symptoms associated with COPD; they would suggest other acute conditions or infections that are not related to respiratory issues. Therefore, wheezing is the most recognizable and relevant symptom connected to shortness of breath in patients suffering from COPD.