Diagnosis requires the doctor to take a history and do physical examination.
COPD is suspected when the patient reports a history of shortness of breath, cough, phlegm production, or intermittent wheezing together with a history of cigarette smoking and no other obvious cause. Other physical findings found in COPD include abnormal breathing sounds with a long slow exhalation phase, wheezing, crackling sounds. Weight loss and muscle loss may be seen in severe cases. Tests include chest x-rays, breathing tests especially spirometry, arterial blood gas, electrocardiogram, and exercise testing with oximetry. The breathing tests help to establish if lung function is normal or diminished.