Have COPD? Have the CHAT

During winter you are more likely to have a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) exacerbation, known as a flare-up of symptoms. Reduce your risk of an exacerbation and stay well this winter by completing our Have the CHAT checklist.

Complete checklist

Recognise the symptoms

Each COPD exacerbation does long-term damage to your health and can increase your risk of death – more than a heart attack. Reduce your risk - learn our easy to remember CHAT acronym to help you recognise the symptoms of an exacerbation.

What is CHAT?

How to stay well this winter

A delay of 24 hours or more in seeking treatment for an exacerbation doubles the chance of hospital admission. It’s vital to Have the CHAT with your doctor as soon as you experience any worsening of your symptoms. In addition to completing the checklist, check out our other resources to help manage your COPD and stay well this winter.

Download resources

Reduce your risk of an exacerbation (flare-up)

Complete our Have the CHAT checklist:

Get your vaccinations (influenza; pneumococcal pneumonia)
Keep active e.g with pulmonary rehabilitation
Check how to use your inhaler device with your General Practitioner (GP)/pharmacist
Ask your GP for a COPD Action Plan
Know the signs of an exacerbation:
- Coughing more than usual.
- Harder to breathe than usual.
- Any change in sputum (phlegm).
- Tired more than usual (less active).

Download checklist

A delay of 24 hours or more in seeking treatment for an exacerbation doubles the chance of hospital admission.
Chandra D, Tsai CL, Camargo CA, Jr. Acute exacerbations of COPD: delay in presentation and the risk of hospitalization. COPD 2009; 6:95-103
COPD is the second leading cause of preventable hospitalisations
National Health Performance Authority 2015, Healthy Communities: Potentially preventable hospitalisations in 2013–14.
Each COPD exacerbation does long-term damage. In people hospitalised due to COPD, the risk of death may be greater than a heart attack.
Halpin D. Mortality in COPD: Inevitable or Preventable? Insights from the Cardiovascular Arena. COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 2008. 5:3, 187–200.