Avoiding Hospitalization for COPD

Your loved one has been hospitalized for treatment of a COPD exacerbation. What you need to know about decreasing the need for hospitalization.

 Read
Join Helpful now
Get more personalized support for free with Helpful.

Get insurance benefits, legal documents, and medical records in one place

COPD - Hospitalization

Helpful Highlights

More than a third of patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation are readmitted to the hospital within 90 days.  A good discharge plan and ongoing compliance with prescribed medical treatment can help your loved one avoid readmission. Likewise, early recognition of exacerbation symptoms and prompt intervention are crucial to preventing the exacerbations that send them to the hospital.  

How are hospitalizations avoided?

Regularly discuss ongoing COPD maintenance and update the treatment plan with the provider.

Ask the provider what should be done when symptoms worsen - how to use rescue medications and implement additional interventions (such as increasing oxygen), when to call the provider, and when to call 9-1-1

Monitor your loved one and ensure they are adherent to their COPD treatment plan.

Ask the health care team questions if you do not understand the discharge instructions following a hospitalization, or want more specifics.

Be observant of subtle changes in your loved one's breathing, energy level, or activities of daily living

Encourage your loved one to be active - take short walks, tend flowerbeds or garden, or run a simple errand.  Staying active increases breathing capacity and reduces the risk of exacerbation.

Exercise

"A WALK a day keeps the doctor away!" Regular physical activity is an important key to managing COPD. Even a short walk daily can make a big difference in symptoms and quality of life.

Exercise lowers heart rate and blood pressure, making the body more efficient at using oxygen. This means the lungs don't have to work so hard. Cardiovascular exercise also helps strengthen chest muscles, which can also ease breathing.

How long or short is a "short walk"? Rather than put a number on it, walk until it is a little hard to breathe and follow these guidelines:

There are also several alternatives to walking (or additions to walking), such as riding a stationary bike or using a pedal exerciser. Many pedal exercisers can be placed on the floor for foot pedaling AND placed on a tabletop for arm pedaling.

Floor and Tabletop Pedal Exerciser

Another alternative to walking is strength-building, which can be accomplished even while sitting.

Bands for Arm and Shoulder Strength
Bands for Leg Strength

Talk to a primary care provider, pulmonologist, or physical therapist about appropriate cardiovascular and strengthening exercises for your loved one. Also, discuss conditioning programs such as pulmonary rehabilitation.

Healthy, COPD-compatible diet

Clean air

Medications

What more can you do for your loved one?

In addition to the above, you can do a lot to help your loved one reduce the risk of hospitalization by reducing the potential for exacerbations.

Join Helpful now

Get more support and guidance on insurance benefits, medical records and legal forms.

Helpful brings together your insurance benefits, legal documents, and medical records in one personalized place — so you always know what you have, and never have to search again.

banner

Navigate Healthcare with A Little Help from Helpful

Get more from your healthcare. Whether for you or your loved one, Helpful makes it easy to book with our in-network mental healthcare providers, book other doctor visits, manage insurance benefits, check prescriptions, and handle important forms.

  • Covered by Your Insurance

  • For You or For Caregivers

  • HIPAA Compliant, Data is Never Shared

hero-hand
sync 1

Healthcare Made Simple

sync 1

From syncing records to spotting drug interactions, Helpful does the heavy lifting, turning complex health info into clear tasks and showing you benefits you can actually use, giving you clarity and control over your care.

Get help with care

therapy

In-Network Mental Health

therapy

Our licensed therapists are here to support you and your loved ones through stress, burnout, and life’s hardest moments, with an inclusive, compassionate approach that works with most insurance plans.

Talk to a therapist

legal

Create Legal Documents

legal

Plan ahead by creating will, trusts, advance directives and more, that ensure your wishes are honored in the event you can’t speak for yourself -with Helpful guiding you every step of the way.

Get started with legal