PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Umur S. Hatipoglu
AU  - Loutfi S. Aboussouan
TI  - Treating and preventing acute exacerbations of COPD
AID  - 10.3949/ccjm.83a.14188
DP  - 2016 Apr 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - 289--300
VI  - 83
IP  - 4
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/83/4/289.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/83/4/289.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med2016 Apr 01; 83
AB  - Acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)—characterized by shortness of breath, increased sputum production, increased purulence, or a combination of these signs—are costly and can have major impacts on the patient’s health. Corticosteroids, antibiotics, and bronchodilators are the cornerstones of prevention and therapy, with mucolytics, oxygen supplementation, and ventilatory support also advisable for some patients. Treatment should be evidence-based and tailored to the patient’s history and present needs.