The keys to managing COPD are stopping smoking, taking your medications, avoiding irritants and infections, exercising, and seeing your doctor frequently. Frequent visits, as often as monthly, will help you and your doctor closely manage your condition. Ask your doctor how often to schedule appointments.
If you are having any of the symptoms described below, don't wait for your next appointment to call your doctor. Report these symptoms promptly, even if you don't feel sick. DO NOT wait for symptoms to become so severe that you need to seek emergency care. If your symptoms are discovered early, your doctor might change your treatment or medications to relieve your symptoms. (Never change or stop taking your medications without first talking to your doctor.)
Note: Warning signs or symptoms might be the same or different from one flare-up to another.
Non-emergency care
Talk to your doctor on the phone within 24 hours if you have these changes in your health:
- Shortness of breath that has become worse or occurs more often. Examples of such shortness of breath may result in your being unable to walk as far as usual; needing more pillows or having to sit up to sleep because of breathing difficulty; being more tired because you're working harder to breathe; needing breathing treatments or inhalers more often than usual; or waking up short of breath more than once a night.
- Sputum (mucus) changes, including changes in color, odor, presence of blood, or changes in thickness or amount (more than usual or you are unable to cough it out).
- More coughing or wheezing.
- Swelling in your ankles, feet, or legs that is new or has become worse and doesn't go away after a night's sleep with your feet up.
- Unexplained weight loss or a gain of 2 pounds in one day or 5 pounds in one week.
- Frequent morning headaches or dizziness.
- Fever, especially with cold or flu symptoms.
- Restlessness, confusion, forgetfulness, slurring of speech, or irritability.
- Unexplained, extreme fatigue or weakness that lasts for more than a day.
Emergency care
Go to your local emergency department or call 9-1-1 if you have:
- A life-threatening emergency.
- Shortness of breath that is not relieved by your medicines or prescribed treatments.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 11/20/2005
