Management and Identification of COPD Exacerbations

The chapter delves into the case of a 60-year-old woman with COPD experiencing exacerbation symptoms despite treatment, discussing the importance of patient self-awareness in detecting exacerbations and seeking early medical intervention. It emphasizes the severity of COPD exacerbations, comparing them to a 'lung stroke' and highlighting high post-hospitalization mortality rates. The chapter also addresses triggers, mimickers, and differential diagnoses of COPD exacerbations for better management and patient prognosis.