COPD flare-up: Symptoms, treatment, and prevention Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe What to know about COPD flare-upsMedically reviewed by Luke Davis, MD — By Caitlin Geng — Updated on July 21, 2022Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to a group of diseases that restrict airflow and affect breathing. COPD causes symptoms that worsen and improve in cycles. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COPD was the fourth leading cause of death in the United States in 2018. About 15.7 million people in the country have received a diagnosis of the disease. People with COPD can experience exacerbations, or flare-ups, during which their symptoms worsen for a period. Flare-ups may be the result of certain avoidable triggers, and they can be less severe if a person begins to treat them during the early stages. In this article, we explain what a COPD flare-up is, how long it may last, and when a person should seek help. We also look at how to manage and prevent COPD flare-ups. What is a COPD flare-up Share on PinterestLumiNola/Getty ImagesA flare-up is a worsening of COPD symptoms, typically due to triggers that include allergens or chest infections from a virus, such as flu. COPD flare-ups can be severe and are the most common reason for hospitalizations among people with the condition. COPD symptoms can become worse rapidly, and a person may suddenly experience breathing difficulties, produce phlegm, and cough and wheeze. They may also experience heightened anxiety or have trouble sleeping. What does it feel like A COPD flare-up may be more manageable if a person recognizes the early warning signs of an oncoming exacerbation. Early symptoms may include: shortness of breatha sore throatcold- and flu-like symptomscoughing more than usuala change in mucus color, which may be brown, yellow, or greenproducing more mucus, which may be stickier and thicker than usualwaking up at night coughingfatigue Ongoing symptoms of COPD that can suddenly worsen during a flare-up include:wheezing or whistling when breathingshortness of breath, particularly during physical activitytightness in the chestan ongoing cough that may produce mucus When to seek help A COPD flare-up can happen unexpectedly, so health experts recommend having a COPD action plan to follow. If a person feels warning signs of a flare-up, they should follow their COPD action plan. This may involve:trying to remain calm and not panic, which could worsen breathing difficultiestaking an antibiotic or corticosteroid pill according to advice from a doctor — for example, the doctor may recommend taking corticosteroids or antibiotics at the first sign of an infection or coldseeking medical attention if breathing remains shallow or is faster than usual and it is difficult to take deep breaths A person should also seek emergency medical care for the following symptoms:coughing up dark mucuschest paindifficulty breathing without sitting forwardconfusionextreme sleepinessdifficulty speakingblue fingertips or lipsfrequent headacheshigh fever Why does it happen Certain triggers may bring on a COPD flare-up. These can include:changes in the weather or the season, especially the arrival of cold dry air or very hot airfeeling anxious or stressedlung infections, colds, and other illnessessmoke and other air pollutantsexposure to dust, pollen, and other allergens in the air How long will it last A COPD flare-up can last for days or weeks, and a person may require corticosteroids, antibiotics, or treatment in hospital to recover. In the later stages of COPD, a person may experience more regular flare-ups, which may lead to irreversible lung damage. It is important for a person to recognize the early signs of a flare-up and immediately seek treatment to avoid more severe symptoms. How to manage a COPD flare-up At the first signs of a flare-up, a person can take steps to help manage the symptoms. These include:remaining calm to keep breathing as evenly as possiblecontacting a doctortaking medication, which may include steroids and antibiotics, according to a doctor’s instructionsusing oxygen by nasal prongs or mask if a doctor has prescribed ittrying breathing techniques, such as pursed lip breathing COPD flare-up prevention There are steps a person can take to prevent COPD flare-ups. These include:quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smokehaving a medical grade pulse oximeterusing oxygen, if a doctor prescribes ittaking medications starting a pulmonary rehabilitation programattending regular health checkupsavoiding people who are sick with colds and other contagious viral infectionshaving all the recommended vaccinations, against influenza, pneumococcal pneumonia, and COVID-19washing the hands frequentlyavoiding pollutants, including smoke and dust, where possibleavoiding extremely cold temperatures staying as active as possibleeating a nutritious, well-balanced diet Summary A COPD flare-up is a sudden worsening of COPD symptoms, which can include cold- or flu-like symptoms, a cough, and phlegm production. COPD flare-ups can be severe and may cause lasting damage to the lungs. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention following any persistent symptoms that do not respond to treatment. These symptoms may include feeling short of breath, having difficulty in breathing, and increase in cough, phlegm, or wheezing. A person can manage a COPD flare-up with oral or intravenous medications like corticosteroids and antibiotics, and oxygen. They can prevent flare-ups by taking their inhalers, avoiding pollutants and other triggers, and starting a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Last medically reviewed on July 21, 2022COPDRespiratory 11 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Basics about COPD. (2021).https://www.cdc.gov/copd/basics-about.htmlChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (2018).https://report.nih.gov/biennialreport1213/chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease.htmlChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (2019).https://www.lung.ca/lung-health/lung-disease/copd/flare-upsChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). (n.d.).https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copdCOPD and vaccines: What you should know. (n.d.).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/publications/COPD%20and%20Vaccines%20What%20You%20Should%20Know_508c_1.pdfCOPD causes and risk factors. (2021).https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/copd/what-causes-copdCOPD flare-up: What it is and what you can do. (2021).https://centersforrespiratoryhealth.com/blog/copd-flare-up-what-it-is-and-what-you-can-do/COPD. (n.d.).https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/copdCOPD. (n.d.).https://www.thoracic.org/patients/lung-disease-week/2011/copd-week/general-info.phpHansel, N.H., et al. (2015). The effects of air pollution and temperature on COPD.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26683097/Lung disease including asthma and adult vaccination. (2021).https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/adults/rec-vac/health-conditions/lung-disease.htmlFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Luke Davis, MD — By Caitlin Geng — Updated on July 21, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M.D. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) refers to two lung diseases that cause difficulty breathing. 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