Creating an Action Plan for COPD Flare-Ups

If you live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it’s essential you have an action plan for flare-ups.  According to COPD.net, actions plans serve three purposes: to help prevent flare-ups, to realize when you’re having a flare-up, and what to do when you’re experiencing a flare-up.

MORE: Six ways to help you take care of your lungs

Prevention
The best course of action is to try and prevent flare-ups from occurring in the first place. While you won’t always be successful, putting into practice good health habits will help.

Here are a few ways you can help prevent flare-ups:

• Quitting smoking
• Taking medication as directed
• Eating healthily
• Drinking plenty of water
• Resting well
• Exercising regularly
• Avoiding people who are ill
• Washing your hands regularly
• Avoiding lung irritants like pollution, dust, pet dander, secondhand smoke
• Getting yearly flu and pneumonia vaccinations

MORE: Five steps to a COPD-friendly diet.

Realization
The sooner you realize you’re experiencing a flare, the quicker you can deal with it and lessen the severity. Here are the most common warning signs to look out for:

• Persistent cough
• Wheezing
• Increased shortness of breath
• Increase in mucus
• Change in mucus color
• Fever
• Headaches first thing in the morning
• Swelling of the legs or ankles
• Bluish tinge to lips or nailbeds

MORE: COPD patients talk about exacerbations and lung infections.

Action
When you realize that you’re having a flare, it’s important to take the following steps to ensure your flare is treated as quickly as possible. Speak with your healthcare team to come up with a viable action plan that can be implemented easily.

Here are some things you’ll need to think about:

• Do you need a rescue inhaler, nebulizer treatments or other prescribed medications such as antibiotics or steroids?
• Will you need supplementary oxygen?
• Are there any breathing exercises that can help calm you down and aid breathing?
• Should you stop what you’re doing and rest?
• Know when to see a doctor, visit the emergency room or call 911. This is usually if you’re experiencing chest pain, feeling confused or agitated, or are struggling to breathe.

MORE: How best to deal with exacerbations and COPD flare-ups. 

COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.