"Flare ups" are all different. I have had a six week flare up exacerbation due to allergies causing upper respiratory infection. I have had flare ups/exacerbations that lasted a few hours brought on by perfumes, cleaners, smells. Then I have had exacerbations that are just minutes, caused from exerting myself. If you feel the exacerbation is ongoing or are afraid then please get yourself to ER. I have found owning my own pulseoximeter has helped me gauge my exacerbations and make better decisions traveling to doc. Until you learn these things it is most nerve wracking for sure. Even with these tools do not get over confident. When in doubt, seek doc out!

It depends on many things, many of them quite individual, and top how you define a "flare". An exacerbation is defined as any increase in your symptoms that requires a change in your ordinary treatment: antibiotics or prednisone or some other change. Some people think that when they get SOB, that's a "flare". It can be, but it can also something that you recover from fairly quickly.

One of the most important things that can impact how long one lasts is when you think you're getting something respiratory or your symptoms change enough so you can notice it, that's the point where you either need to call your doc or be very aware of how you're feeling. For many of us, getting to the doc quickly is what keeps the flare under control and us out of the hospital. If you leave it until you have to go to the ER, you've let it go too long.

If you want more information, you need to define what you mean by a "flare".

Jean