That is how I get when I have severe bronchitis see your pulmonologist you probably need some prednisone.That always works for me if you have a lot of mucus you may need to get an antibiotic also especially if it is colored

If your mucus is thick and clear you can try a generic mucinex. According to a doctor it works like Robitussion cough syrup. I can aquire it at the dollar stores.

When my chest gets tight,I tend to start to panic and that makes it even harder to breath. I have to stop and focus on my breathing and do pursed breathing until my breathing improves.

@A MyCOPDTeam Member: I found this:COPD patients develop panic disorder most likely because shortness-of-breath episodes are so terrifying. Their minds learn to misinterpret potential signs of these episodes as actual signs, creating a feedback loop that results in panic.

Symptoms of a panic attack include:

Pounding, skipping, or racing heartbeat
Difficulty breathing
Chest tightness and pain
Lightheadedness or dizziness
Nausea or stomach cramps
Cold sweats
Trembling and shaking
Sudden chills or hot flashes
Tingling in your extremities
Fear of imminent death or other disastrous outcome
Panic attacks are terrible for proper COPD treatment. The hyperventilation that often accompanies a panic attack creates rapid and shallow breathing, which reduces the ability of the lungs to take in and process oxygen, and thus worsens any COPD symptoms a patient might be experiencing.

How to Deal With Panic Attacks
COPD management must include a plan for dealing with panic attacks and panic disorder. Researchers have found that the best treatment involves cognitive-behavioral therapy, in which a therapist helps the COPD patient learn the subtle body signals that can either create or foretell a panic attack. The therapist also teaches the patient coping strategies, so he can head off an imminent panic attack. Studies have found that cognitive-behavioral therapy can prevent the development or slow the progress of panic disorders in COPD patients.

If you are a COPD patient and find yourself in the grip of a panic attack, you should:

Relax. Try to take a step back and realize that your symptoms, while frightening, are an overreaction to a situation that is not dangerous.
Be realistic. Remain in the present, paying attention to what is actually taking place rather than speculating on what might happen.
Find a distraction. Distract yourself with some simple task like reciting a poem or list, counting backward, or squeezing your hands together.
Accept the anxiety. Face the fear and accept it rather than fight it, allowing the time to pass. Judging the fear on a scale of 1 to 10, notice that even the highest levels of fear retreat within a matter of seconds.
Other useful coping mechanisms for panic attacks include the use of:

Relaxation methods. Learn several relaxation techniques, which can help you calm down before the panic cycle can take hold.
Medications. These can include anti-anxiety drugs or antidepressants.
Find some support. Locate support groups, where you can learn successful coping skills from other people who experience frequent panic attacks.
Patients receiving COPD treatment need to learn how to handle panic attacks. Once they’ve done so, they will be much better equipped for dealing with their condition.

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@A MyCOPDTeam Member for me I'm like @A MyCOPDTeam Member. Usually for me it means calm down and wait. It too shall pass. If yours does not, CALL the doctor right away or go to the hospital.

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