Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung disease that makes it hard to breathe. It is caused by damage to the lungs over many years, usually from smoking.
Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are two lung problems that are types of COPD:
Many people with COPD have attacks called flare-ups or exacerbations. This is when your usual symptoms quickly get worse and stay worse.
If you notice any problems or new symptoms, get medical treatment right away.
When you have a COPD flare-up, your lungs may suddenly produce more mucus. Or the airways of your lungs (bronchial tubes) may suddenly get narrower. These two things reduce the airflow in your lungs. That makes it harder to breathe and makes your coughing worse.
In a COPD attack or flare-up, your usual symptoms suddenly get worse. You have more shortness of breath and wheezing. You have more coughing, with or without mucus. You may cough up more mucus than usual, and it may be a different color.
Treatment of a COPD flare-up, or attack, depends on how bad the flare-up is. Mild flare-ups may be treated by following your doctor's instructions for using a quick-relief (short-acting) inhaler or oral steroid medicines. More severe flare-ups may involve visits to your doctor's office or clinic. Or you may need to be treated in the hospital. Treatments include:
Treatment may also include:
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and past health and will do a physical exam. You may have blood tests, a chest X-ray, and tests to check oxygen levels in your blood, such as pulse oximetry. You may have more testing to check for other health problems.
Medicines called bronchodilators are used to open or relax your airways and help your shortness of breath. These medicines are usually given through an inhaler. They can help prevent COPD flare-ups or to keep them from becoming life-threatening.
A metered-dose inhaler is one type of inhaler. It gives a measured dose of medicine in the form of a liquid mist. This lets you breathe medicine into your lungs quickly. Inhaled medicine works faster than the same medicine in a pill. An inhaler allows you to take less medicine than you would need if you took it as a pill.
Using a spacer with a metered-dose inhaler is the best way to get the most medicine to your lungs. A spacer is a chamber that you attach to the inhaler. The chamber holds the medicine before you inhale it. That way, you can inhale the medicine in as many breaths as you need.
Many people don't use their inhalers the right way, so they don't get the right amount of medicine. Talk with your doctor to be sure you are using each type of inhaler the right way. It might help if you practice using it in front of a mirror.
The two most common causes of a COPD flare-up, or attack, are respiratory tract infections, such as acute bronchitis or pneumonia, and air pollution. Having other health problems, such as heart failure or an abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia) may also trigger a flare-up. In some cases, the cause is not known.
When your COPD symptoms get worse suddenly and stay bad, it's called a flare-up. Your cough and mucus get worse, and it may be harder to breathe. A flare-up can be dangerous, so it's important to know what to do and take action. Your doctor can help you make a plan to manage flare-ups.
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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