Final answer:
The primary symptoms of COPD are cough, sputum production, and dyspnea upon exertion, with weight gain not typically associated with this respiratory disease. Management focuses on smoking cessation and symptomatic treatments like oxygen and bronchodilators.
Step-by-step explanation:
The primary symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) include: cough, sputum production, and dyspnea upon exertion. These symptoms arise from the ongoing restrictions to airflow and the changes within the lungs such as the breakdown of the alveolar walls and decreased elasticity, which affect gas exchange and lead to difficulty in fully exhaling air from the lungs. Weight gain is not typically associated with COPD; rather, weight loss may be seen in advanced cases due to the increased effort required to breathe.
Management of COPD involves smoking cessation to slow the progression of the disease, along with treatments like supplemental oxygen and inhaled bronchodilators to help ease symptoms. However, it is important to note that these treatments do not cure COPD and that prevention through avoiding smoking is critical.