Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes long-term, progressive damage to the lungs. This has an impact on airflow to the lungs. This condition is also known as emphysema or chronic bronchitis by doctors.
People suffering from COPD may experience a period when their symptoms are significantly worse than usual. This is referred to as an acute exacerbation. They may require medical attention at a hospital.
The average COPD patient has between 0.85 and 1.3 exacerbations per year.
Exacerbations of COPD can be dangerous because they can cause additional lung damage. If you’ve been diagnosed with COPD, avoiding exacerbations can help you live a healthier life and lower your risk of death.
What are the signs of a COPD flare-up?
Physical activity will usually make you short of breath if you have COPD. You may not be able to participate in all of the activities that someone without COPD can. Your symptoms may become much worse than usual during an exacerbation.
Exacerbation symptoms of COPD include:
- breathing quickly and shallowly, as if you’ve just finished a vigorous workout
- coughing
- experiencing shortness of breath while at rest or during light activity, such as walking from one room to another
- feeling overly sleepy or perplexed
- having lower-than-normal oxygen levels
- noticing an increase in mucus, which is frequently yellow, green, tan, or even blood-tinged
- more wheezing than usual
Which COPD exacerbation symptoms necessitate immediate medical attention?
Carbon dioxide is left inside your body after your body uses oxygen. Your lungs are in charge of exchanging oxygen for carbon dioxide.
Because their lungs don’t work as well, people with COPD have a harder time making this exchange. This could result in a buildup of carbon dioxide and a decrease in oxygen levels.
If your body’s carbon dioxide levels rise too high or your oxygen levels fall too low, it can be fatal. The following are symptoms of having too much carbon dioxide in your body:
- confusion
- excruciating headache
- walking even short distances is difficult
- having difficulty catching your breath
- You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms.
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What causes a COPD flare-up?
Inflammation in the lungs is usually the cause of COPD exacerbation.
This inflammation can be caused by infection or irritants. Here are some examples:
- pneumonia
- flu
- allergens that are seasonal
- pollution of the air
- smoke
If you have COPD, you should take every precaution to avoid lung infection, such as getting flu shots once a year. The pneumococcal vaccine is also required.
However, approximately 33% of COPD exacerbations have no known cause.
Can a COPD exacerbation lead to the development of other conditions?
COPD can prevent you from exercising or moving around as much because it causes limited lung function.
You are also more likely to get an infection if you have limited lung function. A cold or the flu can be more dangerous and cause more severe symptoms if you have COPD.
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Some of the known COPD complications are as follows:
- depression, because COPD can impair your ability to do things you enjoy.
- heart issues, such as heart disease and an increased risk of having a heart attack
- pulmonary arterial hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs’ arteries
- lung cancer, as COPD patients are frequently smokers.
How are COPD flare-ups handled?
The severity of your symptoms will determine the treatment for COPD exacerbations.
Most COPD patients will begin to notice a pattern in their symptoms. If you recognize the symptoms of an exacerbation early enough, you can seek treatment before they worsen.
Treatments at home
If your symptoms aren’t too severe, your doctor may prescribe home treatments for you to try. Here are some examples:
- Antibiotics: If bacteria caused your respiratory infection, antibiotics can help to slow or stop the infection from worsening.
- Inhalers: It’s difficult to breathe when the small, treelike parts of your lungs known as alveoli narrow or fill with mucus. Bronchodilators and steroid inhalers are the two types of inhalers. Bronchodilators help to open the airways and make breathing easier. Ipratropium/albuterol (Combivent Respimat) and levalbuterol are two examples (Xopenex). Steroid inhalers, such as fluticasone/salmeterol, help to reduce lung inflammation (Advair).
- Steroids: These drugs are intended to reduce lung inflammation, which causes narrowing and swelling.
Treatments in an emergency
In a hospital, your doctor may recommend additional treatments to help you breathe. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, for example, can help keep your lungs open.
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To help you breathe, your doctor may also put you on a ventilator. In this case, you’ll be kept in an intensive care unit until your infection clears up or your lungs heal.
Can a COPD flare-up be avoided?
Adopting certain self-care practices can help prevent COPD exacerbations. These are some examples:
- avoiding exposure to lung irritants in your home, such as kerosene heaters
- avoiding large crowds.
- drinking plenty of fluids to keep mucus from thickening
- getting a flu shot every year to prevent a respiratory infection
- maintaining regular contact with your healthcare provider, such as your pulmonologist
whenever possible, monitor your oxygen levels using a small device known as a pulse oximeter.
- establishing healthy habits, such as getting enough sleep and eating a nutritious diet
- getting pneumonia or pertussis shot if your doctor recommends it
- quitting smoking or abstaining from secondhand smoke
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