COPD Exacerbation
If you have COPD, there are some things that can cause the disease to flare up. This is referred to as “COPD exacerbation.” Some of the most common causes of COPD exacerbation include:
- viral or bacterial infections (including the common cold),
- seasonal or other allergies,
- lung inflammation,
- pneumonia,
- influenza (the flu),
- air pollution, or
- smoke.
COPD Exacerbation Symptoms
About one-third of all exacerbations don’t have a known cause. Be aware of the following symptoms of a COPD exacerbation:
- fast or shallow breathing;
- shortness of breath that is worse than normal;
- severe coughing and/or wheezing;
- feeling sleepy or groggy;
- lower-than-normal oxygen levels (you can measure this with a pulse oximeter at home); or
- high levels of mucus that is yellow, green, brown, or bloody.
Find a Pulmonary Specialist
Treating COPD Exacerbations at Home
For mild symptoms of COPD exacerbation, contact your pulmonologist right away. They may prescribe at-home treatments, including:
- antibiotics or anti-viral drugs,
- inhalers (bronchodilators or steroid inhalers), and
- corticosteroids.
When to Seek Emergency Care
There are some situations where COPD exacerbation will require emergency care. If your lung capacity is lower than normal, your body may not be able to remove carbon dioxide (CO2), which can cause harmful and even fatal buildup of CO2 in your body. Seek emergency medical care right away if you experience symptoms of COPD exacerbation, including:
- confusion,
- extreme fatigue or drowsiness,
- chest pain,
- severe headache, and/or
- inability to catch your breath.
How to Prevent COPD Flare-Ups
When you have COPD, a cold or the flu can be dangerous to your health if it leads to more severe symptoms. To minimize the risk of COPD flare-ups or exacerbation, you should follow these precautions.
- Quit smoking and avoid exposure to secondhand smoke.
- Get your flu shot every year.
- Avoid triggers like air pollution by staying indoors on bad air days.
- Talk to your doctor about getting the pneumococcal vaccine and/or the COVID-19 vaccine.
- Avoid exposure to irritants in your home or workplace.
- Avoid crowds and stay away from people with symptoms during cold and flu season.
- Wash your hands regularly and cover your face with a mask when you leave your home to prevent catching the flu or a cold.
- Drink plenty of fluids to reduce mucus buildup.
- Get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy diet.
- Follow up with your doctor regularly.
Make an Appointment with Our Pulmonary Specialists
Call U of U Health Pulmonology at 801-581-5943 to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced pulmonologists.
You do not need a referral from your primary care provider to schedule an appointment with us. However, some insurance providers require that you get a referral before you see a specialist. Contact your insurance carrier with any questions you may have about your plan requirements.
Meet Our Pulmonary Patients
Double Lung Transplant Saves Utah Veteran's Life
For Joe Rands, breathing hasn’t always been easy. After living with pulmonary fibrosis for more than 15 years, breathing became more and more difficult in the early months of 2020. Unfortunately for Rands, a 59-year-old veteran and Utah native, the decline came hard and fast.
“I thought I was out of shape, and everyone else just thought I was lazy,” said Rands. “That is, until I started getting extreme headaches, feeling lightheaded, and sluggish.”
Respiratory Issues From Unknown Cause Leads to Lung Transplant
In her big, blended family of nine, Maylee Lemon is an optimist who loves to keep everyone laughing. It was during her pregnancy with her youngest daughter in 2005 that she first noticed some respiratory issues, but at the time she thought it was pregnancy-related.
Later after her pregnancy, Maylee went to see a pulmonologist who started monitoring her condition. Eventually she was referred to the Lung Transplant Team at University of Utah Health.
