Check-In: How Do I Avoid COPD Flare-Ups?
Autumn is in the air. It’s the season of crisp, brightly colored leaves, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin pie. Unfortunately, it’s also the start of cold and flu season. Cold and flu season usually starts in October and runs until spring, with the greatest number of flu cases happening between December and February.
During this time of year, people get sick more often. When you are living with COPD or another chronic lung condition, even the common cold or the flu can cause your symptoms to become much worse. These infections can even lead to an exacerbation, also called a flare-up or a lung attack.
As we head farther into the season, here are a few things you should know about flare-ups and how to support your lung health all year round.
What Is a COPD Flare-Up?
A COPD flare-up is when your symptoms suddenly get worse. During a flare-up, you might cough a lot more than usual, or you might feel more breathless. One symptom might become worse, or many symptoms could get worse at once.1
Flare-ups can be very serious. Sometimes, COPD symptoms become so bad that you need to go to the hospital. There can also be long-lasting effects. While most people start feeling better again after a flare-up, some people never feel as well as they did before.2 Overall, people with COPD who have more flare-ups often have worse lung health and more trouble breathing.1
What Are the Causes of Flare-Ups?
Around 70% of flare-ups are caused by viral infections, such as the common cold, the flu, and RSV. Other causes include bacterial infections and triggers in your environment, such as air pollution or smoking.2
Why Are Flare-Ups More Common When It’s Cold?
COPD flare-ups are twice as common during the winter. One study found that between October and March, people who had one COPD flare-up had a second one more quickly.3
Viruses and bacteria, which are the main cause of flare-ups, spread more easily during cold weather. There are many reasons for this. For example, people stay inside more when it’s cold. This means viruses and bacteria can spread more easily from one person to another. Cold weather may also lower your body’s ability to protect itself from sickness. The cold affects the mucus in your nose, which plays a role in trapping viruses and bacteria.4
How Can I Avoid Flare-Ups?
The best way to avoid COPD flare-ups is to avoid getting sick. Take steps to keep yourself healthy:
- Get vaccinated.5 Talk to your doctor about what vaccines are right for you, such as vaccines for the flu, RSV, COVID-19, and shingles.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water.
- Avoid contact with people who are ill. If you are spending time near someone who is sick, consider wearing a mask.
- Support your immune system by getting enough sleep6 and eating a balanced diet.7
Other important ways you can stay healthy include quitting smoking, if you smoke, and using your medications as directed by your doctor.5 This helps support your lung health to reduce the risk of flare-ups.
Tell us in the comments: What steps are you taking to prevent flare-ups this fall? Share your advice and experiences below.
Resources
- Carlin BW. Exacerbations of COPD. Respir Care. 2023;68(7):961-972. doi:10.4187/respcare.10782
- Ritchie AL, Wedzicha JA. Definition, causes, pathogenesis, and consequences of chronic obstructive disease exacerbations. Clin Chest Med. 2020;41(3):421-438. doi:110.1016/j.ccm.2020.06.007
- Rabe KF, Fabbri LM, et al. Seasonal distribution of COPD exacerbations in the prevention of exacerbations with tiotropium in COPD trial. CHEST, 2013;143(3):711-719. doi:10.1378/chest.12-1277
- Huang D, Taha M, Nocera A, et al. Cold exposure impairs extracellular vesicle swarm–mediated nasal antiviral immunity. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 2022;151, 509-525. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2022.09.037
- Agustí A, Calverley PM, Decramer M, Stockley RA, Wedzicha JA. Prevention of Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Knowns and Unknowns. Chronic Obstr Pulm Dis. 2014;1(2):166-184. Published 2014 Sep 25. doi:10.15326/jcopdf.1.2.2014.0134
- Besedovsky L, Born J. Sleep, Don't Sneeze: Longer Sleep Reduces the Risk of Catching a Cold. Sleep. 2015;38(9):1341-1342. Published 2015 Sep 1. doi:10.5665/sleep.4958
- Thirumdas R, Kothakota A, Pandiselvam R, Bahrami A, Barba FJ. Role of food nutrients and supplementation in fighting against viral infections and boosting immunity: A review. Trends Food Sci Technol. 2021;110:66-77. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2021.01.069