Overview
Sometimes your symptoms may get worse over a short time and stay bad. This is called a COPD exacerbation (say "ig-ZAS-ur-BAY-shun") or flare-up. 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.
Symptoms of a flare-up include:
- More shortness of breath than usual.
- Coughing more than usual.
- A change in the amount, color, or thickness of mucus.
What causes them?
Many irritants or triggers can cause your symptoms to get worse over a short time. Common causes of a COPD flare-up are respiratory tract infections such as colds, flu, and pneumonia. Other causes include indoor and outdoor air pollution such as smoke, fumes, and soot.
What happens during a flare-up?
When you have a COPD flare-up, your airways get irritated. Airflow in and out of your lungs is reduced. It gets harder to breathe. Your symptoms get worse over a short time and stay bad. Symptoms may get better with medicines and care at home. Sometimes care is needed in the hospital.
How are they treated?
Treatment of a COPD flare-up, or exacerbation, 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:
- Quick-relief inhaled bronchodilators. These medicines relax the bronchial tubes and make it easier to breathe.
- Oral steroid medicines. They help your lungs work better.
- Oxygen, to increase the amount of oxygen in your blood.
- A machine to help you breathe better or to breathe for you. These are called ventilation machines.
Treatment may also include:
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Intravenous (I.V.) fluids to treat dehydration.
- Other bronchodilators.
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Antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to help treat a bacterial infection.
Credits
Current as of: October 25, 2024