Introduction
You can do things at home to manage COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). By learning the triggers for COPD and avoiding them, you can help reduce flare-ups. While some triggers may be out of your control, there are others you can easily avoid.
Key Points
- Learn and avoid the common triggers for COPD.
- By avoiding flare-ups, you may feel better, be more active, and reduce the impact of COPD on your life.
- Pay attention to symptoms that may warn you of a flare-up. You may need to see your doctor or go to the hospital if your symptoms are severe.
What are common triggers for COPD?
Why is it important to avoid triggers for COPD?
How can you avoid triggers?
Where to go from here
Return to topic:
What are common triggers for COPD?
A trigger is anything that causes your COPD symptoms to flare up or get worse. Triggers include:
- Illnesses like colds, the flu, or pneumonia.
- Poor air quality, such as indoor and outdoor air pollution, smoke, or smog.
- Tobacco smoke.
- Cold, dry air; hot, humid air; or high altitudes.
- Cleaning supplies or other chemicals.
- Pollen, mold, and dust mites.
- Pet hair, skin, or saliva.
- Gases, particles, or fumes from wood or kerosene home heaters.
- Not taking or running out of your medicines.
Not all people have the same triggers. What may cause a flare-up in one person may not be a problem for another person.
Test Your Knowledge
- Getting sick with the flu can trigger a flare-up of COPD symptoms.
-
True
The answer is correct
Getting sick with colds, the flu, or pneumonia can cause your COPD symptoms to flare up or get worse.
-
False
The answer is incorrect
Getting sick with colds, the flu, or pneumonia can cause your COPD symptoms to flare up or get worse.
- Flare-ups of COPD symptoms are caused by the same things for everyone.
Continue to Why is it important to avoid triggers for COPD?
Return to Avoiding triggers for COPD
Why is it important to avoid triggers for COPD?
Flare-ups of COPD can greatly limit your activities. You may even need to stay in the hospital. By avoiding flare-ups, you may feel better, be more active, and reduce the impact of COPD on your life.
So it is important to pay attention to your symptoms. You can tell you're having a flare-up when your usual symptoms suddenly get worse. For example:
- You may wheeze or be more short of breath than usual.
- You may cough more than usual. Your cough may or may not bring up mucus. Or you may notice a change in the color or amount of mucus you cough up.
- You may have a fever, have trouble sleeping, or feel very tired. Or you may feel depressed or confused.
With treatment, many people are able to breathe as well as they did before a flare-up.
Test Your Knowledge
- Avoiding triggers of a flare-up can help you stay out of the hospital.
-
True
The answer is correct
When you have a flare-up, you may need to be treated in a hospital until you can breathe better on your own. So it's best to avoid anything that triggers a flare-up.
-
False
The answer is incorrect
When you have a flare-up, you may need to be treated in a hospital until you can breathe better on your own. So it's best to avoid anything that triggers a flare-up.
- A fever may be a sign of a COPD flare-up.
-
True
The answer is correct
It is important to pay attention to your symptoms. You can tell you're having a flare-up when your usual symptoms suddenly get worse. This may include a fever.
-
False
The answer is incorrect
It is important to pay attention to your symptoms. You can tell you're having a flare-up when your usual symptoms suddenly get worse. This may include a fever.
Continue to How can you avoid triggers?
Return to Avoiding triggers for COPD
How can you avoid triggers?
There are many things you can do to avoid triggers and stay as healthy as you can.
Avoid triggers in the air
- Quit smoking. This is the most important thing you can do. Also stay away from other people who are smoking.
- Use an air conditioner or air filter in your home.
- Cook near an open door or window, or turn on your kitchen fan.
- If there is a lot of pollution or dust outside, stay at home and keep your windows closed.
Protect your health
- Get a flu shot each fall.
- Talk to your doctor about getting a shot for pneumonia.
- Wash your hands to avoid infections.
- Eat healthy foods, exercise, and get enough rest.
- Refill your medicines before you run out.
- Take extra medicines with you when you travel.
Test Your Knowledge
- It is okay for me to be around other people who smoke, as long as I don't smoke.
-
True
The answer is incorrect
It is important to stay away from anything that causes your COPD symptoms to flare up or get worse. This includes staying away from other people who are smoking.
-
False
The answer is correct
It is important to stay away from anything that causes your COPD symptoms to flare up or get worse. This includes staying away from other people who are smoking.
- Getting a flu shot can help me avoid one of the triggers of COPD.
Continue to Where to go from here
Return to Avoiding triggers for COPD
Where to go from here
Now that you have read this information, you are ready to start identifying and avoiding triggers for COPD.
Talk with your doctor.
If you have questions about this information, print it out and take it with you when you visit your doctor. You may want to use a highlighter to mark areas or make notes in the margins of pages where you have questions.
Be sure to let your doctor know if you notice changes in your symptoms. Talk with your doctor about what might be triggers for you. Ask about ways you can avoid those triggers.
If you would like more information on COPD, the following resources are available:
Online Resource
| Smokefree.gov | |
| Smokefree.gov | |
| Web Address: | www.smokefree.gov |
|
This Web site was created by the Tobacco Control Research Branch of the National Cancer Institute with important contributions from other national agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and the American Cancer Society. It offers an online guide to quitting smoking, including online messaging and telephone support from the National Cancer Institute. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Organizations
| National Jewish Medical and Research Center | |
| 1400 Jackson Street | |
| Denver, CO 80206 | |
| Phone: | 1-800-222-LUNG (1-800-222-5864) (303) 388-4461 (outside the United States) |
| E-mail: | lungline@njc.org |
| Web Address: | http://www.njc.org or http://www.NationalJewish.org |
|
The National Jewish Medical and Research Center is devoted to treatment, research, and education in chronic respiratory diseases. It also publishes a newsletter and pamphlets; maintains the LUNG LINE, a free call-in information service for consumers; and has a patient referral center (inpatient and outpatient services). |
|
|
|
|
| American Lung Association | |
| 61 Broadway, 6th Floor | |
| New York, NY 10006 | |
| Phone: | 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) 1-800-548-8252 (to speak with a lung professional) (212) 315-8700 |
| Web Address: | www.lungusa.org |
|
The American Lung Association, along with its medical branch, the American Thoracic Society, provides programs of education, community service, and advocacy. Some of the topics available include asthma, tobacco control, emphysema, asbestos, carbon monoxide, radon, and ozone. |
|
|
|
|
| American Thoracic Society | |
| 61 Broadway | |
| New York, NY 10006-2755 | |
| Phone: | (212) 315-8600 |
| Fax: | (212) 315-6498 |
| E-mail: | atsinfo@thoracic.org |
| Web Address: | http://www.thoracic.org/ |
|
The American Thoracic Society provides information to professionals and consumers on the prevention and treatment of lung diseases. It provides educational material for the consumer through its Web site. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return to Avoiding triggers for COPD
Credits
| Author | Lila Havens |
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Editor | Katy E. Magee, MA |
| Associate Editor | Michele Cronen |
| Associate Editor | Tracy Landauer |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Renée M. Crichlow, MD - Family Medicine |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology |
| Last Updated | June 16, 2006 |
Robin Parks, MS
© 1995-2007, Healthwise, Incorporated, P.O. Box 1989, Boise, ID 83701. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. For more information, click here. Privacy Policy. How this information was developed.