What Are the Four Conditions of COPD?

Symptoms of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) include:

• Frequent coughing
• Excess phlegm, mucus, or sputum production
• Spitting up phlegm (mucus) 
• Wheezing
• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty inhaling deeply

When symptoms of COPD worsen, often quickly and suddenly, it’s called an exacerbation or flare-up. Signs of an oncoming COPD exacerbation include: 

• Coughing more than usual 
• More shortness of breath than usual
• Wheezing more than usual
• Changes in mucus thickness, color, or amount
• Being more tired or fatigued than usual 
• Feeling unwell (malaise)
• Cold symptoms: fever, sore throat, or other cold symptoms 
• Swollen legs or ankles
• Needing to sleep sitting up instead of lying down
• Difficulty sleeping
• Feeling a need for increased oxygen in patients who are on oxygen
  • Oxygen levels will be lower than normal if measured

Call 911 immediately or go to a hospital’s emergency department (do not drive yourself) if you experience serious warning signs of a COPD exacerbation such as:

• Chest pain
• Feeling as if you are suffocating 
• Blue lips or fingers
• Confusion

The main cause of up to 90% of cases of COPD in the U.S. is smoking tobacco. The toxins in cigarette smoke weaken the lungs’ defense against infections, narrow air passages, cause swelling in airways, and destroy air sacs, all of which can contribute to developing COPD.

Other causes and risk factors for COPD include: 

• Inhaling secondhand smoke
• Exposure to air pollutants in the home and workplace
• A history of respiratory infections 
• Genetic factors, such as alpha-1 deficiency
• Poor indoor air quality (in the developing world)

The goal of treatment for COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) is to relieve symptoms, decrease the frequency and severity of exacerbations, and increase tolerance to exercise. 

Treatment for COPD may include:

• Quitting smoking
  • This is the most important part of COPD treatment for people who smoke as it’s the most common cause of COPD
• Avoiding secondhand tobacco smoke
• Avoiding air pollutants at home and at work
• Pulmonary rehabilitation
• Medications to treat symptoms 
  • Bronchodilators including anticholinergics and beta2-agonists 
  • Anti-inflammatories, such as corticosteroids 
  • Antibiotics for lung infections
  • Influenza (flu) and pneumococcal vaccinations to prevent lung infections
• Supplemental oxygen

Patients who have COPD should be prepared for exacerbations and need to work with their doctors to have a plan for when they occur. Treating flare-ups quickly can reduce the chances of serious illness and additional lung damage. 

Treatment for COPD exacerbations may include: 

• Quick-relief inhaler
• Nebulizer 
• Steroids 
• Antibiotics