You need to figure out with your doc what your yellow and red flags are so you know when you should be watching for something. Often, needing increased O2, more coughing than usual, producing more mucous than usual, running a low grade fever, not being able to do as much in the gym today as you could yesterday, change in the color of mucous can all be signs. Other people have very personal ones: blood sugar rises when you're getting ill, or sweating at certain times of the day. You need to figure out what your signs are and agree with your doc what to do: call the office and get a prescription; have antibiotics and pred on hand so you can start immediately, go to urgent care or the ER. The real point here is to work with your doc so you know what to do and don't have to ask here.

@A MyCOPDTeam Member Everyone’s body is different so I don’t know how you can tell. I have had many over the years and I just know by how my body is acting. This is a good question to ask your doctor. I am sure he/she knowing your health situation would be able to tell you. You are correct you need to catch before it gets so bad you have to go to hospital. I take a antibiotics and prednisone. Again I don’t know what your doctor would prescribe for you.

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A MyCOPDT...

I don't use any steroids ,however I feel congestion or get shorter of breath. I know to get that phlem up and get on a nebulizer and that does it for me. That and rest. I don't know that any of us are alike in what triggors an attack. My 24/7 oxygen prevents bad ones. Since I got on it I can avoid horrible shortness of breath so far.

We are all affected different so it's hard to tell you, just watch for worsing of breathing extra congestion

I keep antibiotics and prednisone on hand at all time. The quicker you start on the meds the quicker you will recover