Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
When to Call a Doctor
Call 911 or other emergency services immediately if:
- Breathing stops.
Note:
If breathing has stopped, after calling 911 or other emergency services, see Rescue Breathing and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in the topic Dealing With Emergencies.- Moderate to severe difficulty breathing occurs.
- Severe chest pain occurs, or if chest pain is rapidly getting worse.
Call your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if you have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and you:
- Cough up 0.5 cups (120 mL) or more of blood.
- Have shortness of breath or wheezing that is rapidly getting worse.
- Start having new chest pain.
- Are coughing more deeply or more frequently, especially if you notice an increase in mucus (sputum) or a change in the color of the mucus you cough up.
- Have increased swelling in your legs or abdomen.
- Have a high fever [over 100°F (37.8°C)].
- Develop flu-like symptoms.
Call your doctor for an appointment if you notice that your:
- Medicine is not working as well as it had been.
- Symptoms are slowly getting worse, and you have not seen a doctor recently.
If you have a rapid, sometimes sudden, and prolonged increase in symptoms (cough, amount of mucus, and/or shortness of breath), you may be having a COPD exacerbation. Quick treatment for a COPD exacerbation may prevent serious breathing problems that might require hospitalization.
Call your doctor for an appointment if you have not been diagnosed with COPD but are experiencing symptoms. A history of smoking (even in the past) greatly increases the likelihood that symptoms are due to COPD.
If you have been diagnosed with COPD, talk with your doctor at your next regular appointment about:
- Getting a yearly influenza (flu) shot.
- Getting a pneumococcal vaccine. Usually, people need only one dose of this vaccine. But doctors sometimes recommend a second dose for some people, especially if they have a long-term disease.
- Participating in an exercise program or pulmonary rehabilitation.
- Updating your medicines or treatment routine.
- Getting help to stop smoking. To review tips on how to stop smoking, see the topic Quitting Tobacco Use.
Watchful Waiting
Watchful waiting is a period of time during which you and your doctor observe your symptoms or condition without using medical treatment. If you have the symptoms of COPD but have not been diagnosed, see your doctor.
If you have been diagnosed with COPD, you and your doctor will determine how often to have checkups. An older adult who has a history of lung or heart disease should call his or her doctor if shortness of breath gets worse or if it occurs with fever, discolored mucus, or chest pain.
If you have COPD and a cold, you can treat the cold at home with cough suppressants, aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol), lots of fluids, and rest. But you should call your doctor if a fever lasts longer than 2 to 3 days, breathlessness occurs or becomes noticeably worse, or a cough gets worse or lasts longer than 7 to 10 days.
Who to See
Health professionals who can diagnose COPD and provide a basic treatment plan include:
You may need to see a specialist in lung disease (pulmonologist) if:
- Your diagnosis of COPD is uncertain or difficult to make because you have diseases with similar symptoms.
- You have unusual symptoms or signs that are not usually seen in people with COPD.
- You appear to have COPD but do not have a history of smoking cigarettes.
- You are younger than 50 and/or have no history or a short history of cigarette smoking.
- You have to go to the hospital repeatedly because of a sudden increase in shortness of breath (COPD exacerbation).
- You require long-term oxygen or corticosteroid therapy.
- You and your doctor are considering surgical treatment, such as lung transplantation or lung volume reduction surgery.
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| Author: | Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS | Last Updated: May 8, 2008 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology | |
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