Occasionally, the symptoms of COPD can flare up without warning. In some cases, it may be triggered by exposure to higher levels of pollution, secondhand smoke or after suffering some form of infection. In such an instance of a flare-up, it needs to be treated with a plan drawn up by a doctor familiar with the patient's symptoms and treatment needs.
In most cases of flare-ups, a fast-acting bronchodilator, such as fast-acting “rescue” bronchodilators containing albuterol (Ventolin and DuoNeb), should have been prescribed and kept on hand.