Asthma and COPD

Asthma COPD Comparison

The goal of this article is to compare asthma and COPD and answer several common questions about asthma and COPD. For instance, is asthma COPD? And is asthma a symptom of COPD?

The short answer to the question "Is asthma COPD" is no.

Signs and symptoms of asthma and COPD may seem similar in many ways. Both can be severe lung diseases that are characterized by recurrent wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing. But significant differences between asthma and COPD usually exist due to their causes and age of onset.

Asthma and COPD comparison facts Asthma usually starts when you're young: frequently during childhood or adolescence. COPD (which stands for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), usually strikes in middle age or later among those who have smoked or are currently smoking.

Furthermore, asthma attacks are generally triggered by external factors like cold air, pollutants, allergens or exercise. COPD is usually triggered internally by respiratory infections.

The third major difference involves the degree in which airways are affected. When you have asthma, you can be symptom free, or nearly symptom free, between attacks (also known as "exacerbations" or "episodes"). But when you have COPD, symptoms are more persistent, and they present themselves nearly every day. This is true even when you stop smoking or use a broncodilator to make breathing easier.

Causes of Asthma and COPD When you have asthma, the smaller airways in your lungs constrict, making it more difficult for you to breathe. As mentioned above, it most often starts in early childhood but it can strike at any age. Sometimes symptoms grow less intense and episodes become less frequent as you get older.

Often, asthma runs in families.

COPD is an umbrella term which is used to describe several similar lung disorders, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Doctors often have trouble diagnosing whether you have asthma or COPD.

A condition called chronic asthmatic bronchitis refers to a type of asthma that has become so persistent that therapy does little to relieve symptoms. Someone with chronic asthmatic bronchitis usually suffers from symptoms of both asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Chronic asthmatic bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema are three of the major diseases that are grouped together as COPD. Any of these disorders can develop due to

smoking,
hereditary susceptibility, or
exposure to large amounts of dust at work or at home.

There is also evidence that susceptibility to emphysema may be hereditary.

Children who live in homes where one or both of the parents smoke are more likely to develop COPD.

Typically, the first sign of chronic bronchitis is a persistent cough that produces mucus. Wheezing, shortness of breath, and frequent chest infections often follow. Shortness of breath is also a major symptom of emphysema. You might first notice breathing difficulty following exercise. As the disorder progresses, breathing becomes more difficult even after light exertion.

Emphysema and chronic bronchitis often occur together. Both disorders typically produce mucus.

Frequent colds or infections in the nose, sinus, throat, or chest can make symptoms worse.

Treatment of asthma and COPD Lung function problems due to emphysema may be in progress for years before you notice any change in your health. When it is diagnosed early, there are some effective treatment options, including certain medications. Once you've been diagnosed, it's important to stop smoking.

Treatment differs for asthma and COPD. However, since it's often too difficult to distinguish the difference between the two disorders, mistakes are sometimes made.

A person diagnosed with asthma is usually given a corticosteroid and advised to use a bronchodilator when needed.

However, bronchodilators are the primary treatment option for COPD. Corticosteroids treatment should be reserved those with COPD that cannot be adequately managed with bronchodilators.

Search for more information on asthma and COPD by typing a relevant keyword or phrase in the search box below.