A 67-year-old male with COPD and history of bronchospasm, who presents with a 3-day history of increased cough, respiratory secretions, wheezings, and shortness of breath.  He was seen by me in the office on the day of admission and noted to be dyspneic with audible wheezing and he was admitted for acute asthmatic bronchitis, superimposed upon longstanding COPD.  Unfortunately over the past few months he has returned to pipe smoking.  At the time of admission, he denied fever, diaphoresis, nausea, chest pain or other systemic symptoms.