COPD

💡TL;DR: **Most COPD flare-ups start with home treatment using your rescue inhaler or nebulizer plus a short course of oral steroids your doctor prescribes, while more severe flares need oxygen, possible antibiotics, and hospital care.** Guidelines from Michigan Medicine and the Merck Manual Professional put fast-acting bronchodilators first, then

💡TL;DR: A mucus plug is a thick mucus blockage that can obstruct an airway and cause part of the lung to collapse. Most plugs clear with a layered approach: hydration, bronchodilator if prescribed, postural drainage, and controlled or huff coughing; severe or stuck plugs may require bronchoscopy. In COPD,

💡TL;DR: Orange or rust-colored phlegm usually means a small amount of dried blood in your mucus, most often from infection or irritation (for example, sinusitis, bronchitis, or a minor nosebleed). Color alone doesn’t diagnose the cause—track other symptoms and how you feel over 3–5 days. Rusty

What Is a Portable Oxygen Concentrator and Who Needs One? A portable oxygen concentrator (POC) is a small, battery-powered medical device that pulls in room air, concentrates the oxygen, and sends it to you through a nasal cannula. Unlike oxygen tanks, POCs don’t store oxygen. They make it on

💡TL;DR: Yes, you can use a nebulizer with oxygen; they do different jobs and are often used together. If you already use oxygen, keep your nasal cannula on during treatment or use oxygen to power the nebulizer at 6–8 L/min for a proper mist. Exception: some people

💡TL;DR: Yes — you can do most pulmonary rehab at home with daily breathing practice, regular walking, and simple strength exercises; evidence shows home programs can achieve similar benefits (Cochrane) to center-based rehab when done consistently. Build toward 20–30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity most days plus strength training

💡TL;DR: Fastest relief: combine postural drainage, gentle clapping, and huff coughing to move mucus now. Add warm steam and steady fluids to thin mucus; you can often feel movement within minutes when you hold positions for 5–10 minutes per side and do 2–3 huffs before a cough.

Most COPD flare-ups last somewhere between 7 and 14 days. Some pass in a few days, while others can drag on for weeks. Living with COPD means learning how to manage the ups and downs, and flare-ups are one of the biggest challenges. These episodes can feel overwhelming. Breathing gets

If you or someone you love is living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you know how much every breath can matter. And when symptoms like coughing, wheezing, or tightness in the chest start to flare up, having the right medications and treatments on hand can make all the difference.