COPD Flare-Up

You have had a flare-up of your COPD.

COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is a common lung disease. It causes your airways to get irritated and narrower. This makes it harder for you to breathe. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are both types of COPD. This is a long-term (chronic) condition. This means you always have it. But how severe it is may vary. When it gets worse, it's called a flare-up.

Symptoms of COPD

People with COPD may have symptoms most of the time. In a flare-up, your symptoms get worse. Symptoms that may mean you are having a flare-up include:

• Shortness of breath, shallow or rapid breathing, or wheezing that gets worse.

• Lung infection.

• A cough that gets worse.

• More mucus (or sputum), thicker mucus, or mucus of a different color.

• Tiredness, less energy, or trouble doing your routine activities.

• Fever.

• Chest tightness.

• Trouble talking.

• You feel confused.

Causes of flare-ups

A flare-up can happen even if you did everything right and followed your health care provider’s instructions. Some causes of flare-ups are:

• Cold weather.

• Smoking or secondhand smoke.

• Use of e-cigarettes or vaping products.

• Colds, the flu, or other respiratory infections.

• Air pollution.

• Sudden change in the weather.

• Dust, vapors, gases, irritating chemicals, or strong fumes.

• Not taking your medicines as prescribed.

• Indoor pollution, such as burning wood, smoke from home cooking, or heating fuels.

Home care

Here are some things you can do at home to treat a flare-up:

• Keep calm and try not to panic. This makes it harder to breathe and keeps you from doing the right things.

• Don’t smoke or be around others who are smoking. If you smoke, quit. Smoking is the main most common cause of COPD. Quitting will help you manage your COPD. Don't use e-cigarettes or vaping products either. Ask your health care provider about ways to help you quit smoking.

• Before drinking extra fluids during flare-ups to loosen the mucus, always talk with your healthcare provider first.

• Eat a healthy, balanced diet. It is important to stay as healthy as possible. So is trying to stay at your ideal weight. Being overweight or underweight can affect your health. Make sure you have a lot of fruits and vegetables every day. And also eat balanced portions of whole grains, lean meats and fish, and low-fat dairy products.

• Use your inhalers and nebulizer, if you have one, as you have been told to. When using a metered dose inhaler or nebulizer, it's very important to use the correct methods. If you have any questions about how to use your device, contact your health care provider or refer to the user manual.

• If you were given antibiotics, take them until they are used up or your provider tells you to stop. It’s important to finish the antibiotics even though you feel better. This will make sure the infection has cleared.

• If you were given a steroid, use it for the length of time prescribed. This is important even if you feel better.

• Learn the names of your medicines. And learn how and when to use them. Talk with your provider about other conditions you have, their treatment, and how it may affect your COPD.

• Oxygen may be prescribed if tests show that your blood contains too little oxygen. Ask your provider about long-term oxygen therapy.

• Coping tips for shortness of breath include:

  • Exercise. Try to be as active as possible. This will improve energy levels and make your muscles stronger so you can do more. Ask your health care provider what exercises you can safely do.

  • Breathing methods. Ask your provider or nurse to show you how to do pursed-lip breathing.

  • Balance rest and activity. Each day, try to balance rest periods with activity. For example, you might start the day by getting dressed and eating breakfast. Then you can relax and read the paper. After that, take a brief walk. And then sit with your feet up for a while. Do the most important tasks when you have the most energy.

  • Pulmonary rehab (rehabilitation). Community-based and home-based programs work as well as hospital-based programs. This is true as long as they are as often and as intense. Standard home-based pulmonary rehab programs help with shortness of breath in people with COPD. Supervised, traditional pulmonary rehab remains the best choice for people with COPD. These programs help with managing your disease and also help with breathing methods, exercise, support, and counseling. To find one, ask your provider or call your local hospital. Talk with your provider about which rehab or self-management program is best for you.

Preventing a flare-up

Flare-ups happen. But the best way to treat a flare-up is to prevent it before it starts. Here are some pointers:

• Don’t smoke or be around others who are smoking. Don't use e-cigarettes due to their harmful side effects.

• Take your medicines as discussed with your health care provider.

• Stay up-to-date on all vaccines. Talk with your provider about getting a flu shot every year. Also find out if you need a pneumonia shot.

• If there is a weather advisory warning to stay indoors, try to stay inside when possible.

• Try to eat healthy foods, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.

• Try to stay away from things that normally cause your symptoms. These include dust, chemical fumes, hairsprays, or strong perfumes.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your health care provider as advised.

If a culture was done, you will be told if your treatment needs to be changed. You can call as directed for the results.

If X-rays were done, you will be told of any new findings that may affect your care.

During each appointment, talk with your provider about your ability to:

• Cope in your normal environment.

• Correctly use the inhaler (or your medicine delivery systems).

• Cope with other conditions you have and their treatments and how they may affect your COPD.

Call 911

Call 911 if you:

• Wheeze or have shortness of breath that does not get better with treatment.

• Have chest pain or chest tightness.

• Feel lightheaded or dizzy.

• Have trouble breathing.

• Feel confused or it’s hard to wake you up.

• Faint or lose consciousness.

• Have a rapid heart rate.

• Have new pain in your chest, arm, shoulder, neck, or upper back.

• Have blue lips or skin.

When to get medical advice

Call your health care provider right away if you:

• Have a fever of 100.4°F (38ºC) or higher, or as directed by your provider.

• Cough up lots of dark-colored or bloody mucus (sputum).

• Don't start to get better within 24 hours, or new symptoms start.

• Have swelling of your ankles that gets worse.

• Are weak.