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Recognizing and Managing COPD Symptoms

The document discusses Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), highlighting that symptoms can vary and not everyone with COPD will exhibit all symptoms. It emphasizes the importance of consulting a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment, especially during flare-ups triggered by various factors. Additionally, it outlines when to seek immediate medical attention for severe symptoms.

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8 views2 pages

Recognizing and Managing COPD Symptoms

The document discusses Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), highlighting that symptoms can vary and not everyone with COPD will exhibit all symptoms. It emphasizes the importance of consulting a healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment, especially during flare-ups triggered by various factors. Additionally, it outlines when to seek immediate medical attention for severe symptoms.

Uploaded by

santiagoevangeline985
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Not everyone who has these symptoms has COPD.

Likewise, not everyone


with COPD has all these symptoms. Your healthcare provider can determine
whether you have COPD. You may also have additional conditions that need
to be diagnosed and treated. It is very common for people with COPD to
have other conditions, including heart disease.

If your symptoms are mild, you may adjust your lifestyle to make breathing
easier. For example, you may take the elevator instead of the stairs. For
more serious symptoms, such as becoming short of breath during physical
work, your healthcare provider can provide treatments and other ways to
help. Severe COPD can cause additional symptoms, such as lack of appetite,
loss of weight and muscle, anxiety, and depression.

Learn more about living with COPD.

INFOGRAPHIC

Portraits of Lung Health at Any Age


Learn how to recognize the symptoms of COPD and manage the disease, no
matter how old you are.
View the infographic.

COPD flare-ups
Certain triggers, such as smells, cold air, poor air quality, colds, the flu, or a
lung infection, can lead to a sudden worsening of symptoms. When this
happens, it is called a flare-up or an exacerbation .

With a flare-up, you have a harder time breathing. You may also have chest
tightness or a fever. You may need to cough or clear your throat more. Or
you might find yourself coughing up yellow or green phlegm.

Call your healthcare provider right away if your symptoms worsen suddenly.
Your provider may prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection. They may also
give you other medicines, such as bronchodilators and inhaled or oral
steroids, to help you breathe. Serious symptoms may require treatment in a
hospital.

How serious a flare-up is depends on the amount of lung damage you have.
Poor sleep can also increase the risk of a flare-up. Take steps to keep
yourself healthy to help prevent a flare-up.
When to call your healthcare provider
As soon as you notice symptoms of COPD in yourself or a loved one, make
an appointment to see a provider. Don’t wait for your symptoms to become
serious.

A flare-up may require treatment in a hospital. You — or, if you are unable,
your family members or friends — should call 9-1-1 if you are experiencing
unusual events:

 You are having a hard time catching your breath or talking.


 Your lips or fingernails have turned blue or gray, a sign of a low oxygen level in
your blood.
 People around you notice that you are not mentally alert.
 Your heartbeat is very fast.
 The recommended treatment for your symptoms is not working.

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