COPD Exacerbation: Recognising a Flare-Up

During an exacerbation, the airways become more irritated and narrowed than usual. You may feel more short of breath, cough more often, produce extra phlegm or notice a change in its colour. Wheezing and chest tightness can accompany the change. A respiratory infection, smoke or other irritants may trigger a flare, but sometimes no clear trigger is found. The key clue is a sustained departure from your usual pattern, not the presence of one symptom alone.

Follow the written action plan supplied by your clinician and use prescribed reliever treatment as directed. Rest between activities, sit upright and avoid smoke or strong fumes. Contact a healthcare professional promptly if symptoms are more intense than your plan covers, if treatment is not helping, or if you are unsure whether this is an exacerbation. Do not borrow antibiotics or change steroid doses without clinical advice. After recovery, review inhaler technique and triggers.

Call emergency services for extreme difficulty breathing, inability to speak normally, blue or grey lips, new confusion, collapse or severe chest pain. Seek same-day medical advice for rapidly worsening breathlessness, a marked rise in phlegm, blood in mucus or fever. Early assessment can distinguish a flare from pneumonia, a heart problem or another urgent cause.

Ask what may have triggered this episode, which symptoms mean you should start your action plan, and whether your regular treatment needs adjustment. Ask when to book your next Chronic Disease Review and whether spirometry remains appropriate once you are stable.