Spotting Signs of COPD
Complications Can Help Prevent an Emergency
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[November 23, 2021]
November is Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Awareness
Month and recognizing when the symptoms of this common chronic
condition become an emergency can save a life, according to the
American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP).
“COPD is one of the most common chronic conditions that emergency
physicians see in patients who come to the emergency department,”
said Gillian Schmitz, MD, FACEP, president of ACEP. “It is important
for people who live with COPD and their caregivers to be able to
identify the signs of a COPD-related emergency and know when to go
to the emergency department.”
COPD is a group of long-term inflammatory lung conditions that make
it hard to breathe and typically include emphysema and chronic
bronchitis. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD, but
this illness can develop after extended exposure to chemicals, dust,
or other lung irritants, and in some cases it can be genetic.
More than 16 million people in the United States live with COPD and
COPD-related emergencies annually send about 873,000 people to the
emergency department, according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC). People with COPD can have a cough, chest
tightness, wheezing or shortness of breath, and heavy amounts of
mucus.
Prompt attention to changes in typical symptoms can help prevent an
emergency. Call 911 or go to the closest emergency department for:
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Recommended treatment is not working, or symptoms are getting
worse
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Slurred speech, disorientation, confusion, dizziness
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Sleepiness and difficulty arousing
Those with COPD should work with their physician to create a disease management
plan that includes an emergency action plan with medication history, important
phone numbers, and other information that can be critical to gather before an
emergency occurs. Chronic illness like COPD can increase the risk of respiratory
illness and severe COVID-19 symptoms.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2021/Nov/23/images/ads/current/goodman_sda_FFARM_2019.png)
“Anyone with COPD, or any chronic condition, should consider every available
protection against getting sick, especially while we are in a pandemic,” said
Dr. Schmitz. “That includes a COVID-19 vaccine and a flu shot.”
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The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) is the national medical
society representing emergency medicine. Through continuing education, research,
public education and advocacy, ACEP advances emergency care on behalf of its
40,000 emergency physician members, and the more than 150 million Americans they
treat on an annual basis. For more information, visit
www.acep.org and
www.emergency
physicians.org.
[Steve Arnoff] |