Which Is Worse Asthma Or Copd – It’s no wonder that asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are often mistaken for each other – both are conditions that affect the lungs and make breathing more difficult. Despite their many similarities, asthma and COPD are not the same. In honor of November being National COPD Awareness Month, it’s time to finally settle the question of whether asthma and COPD are the same thing.
Below, we will look at the definition of the two diseases, as well as the symptoms, causes and treatment for each. We will also discuss when to see a medical professional for lung damage to help raise awareness of COPD this month.
Which Is Worse Asthma Or Copd
Before discussing the similarities and differences between asthma and COPD, here is a brief definition of each condition.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
COPD is a lung disease that cannot be fully cured. It occurs when chronic airflow obstruction in the lungs adversely affects breathing. The main cause of COPD is exposure to tobacco, either through direct smoking or secondhand smoke. Frequent coughing, frequent shortness of breath, frequent throat clearing and decreased exercise tolerance are common symptoms of COPD.
COPD is a general name given to a group of lung diseases. The main lung diseases associated with COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis, both of which are considered different types of COPD by many researchers and doctors – such as those of the World Health Organization (WHO). ) Emphysema occurs when the alveoli – small sacs in the lungs – become damaged, while chronic bronchitis occurs when the tubes that carry air to the lungs become inflamed.
Asthma is a respiratory condition characterized by bronchial spasms and difficulty breathing caused by narrowed and inflamed airways in the lungs. Along with difficulty breathing, asthma usually causes repeated episodes of shortness of breath, chest tightness and shortness of breath.
Those with asthma are very sensitive to allergens and other substances that can irritate when inhaled, known as irritants. Often referred to as triggers, allergens and irritants can trigger an asthma attack, which is when excess mucus causes the airways to swell and constrict. Asthma attacks can range from mild to moderate or severe.
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With proper care and treatment, asthma can be completely reversed and breathing can return to normal.
COPD and asthma are lung diseases that make it difficult to breathe by causing inflammation in the body’s airways. However, asthma can be better and its symptoms can come and go, whereas COPD comes with recurring symptoms that can get worse over time. Asthma can also affect anyone, while COPD symptoms usually appear in people over the age of 40.
Although rare, it is possible to have COPD and asthma together, which is known as co-occurring COPD syndrome (ACOS).
Because both are lung diseases that make breathing difficult on a regular basis, asthma and COPD share many similarities in both symptoms and causes. Immune triggers that lead to asthma attacks are often triggered by airborne substances such as smoke, dust, pollen, mites and mold spores. COPD is caused by long-term exposure to lung irritants, such as cigarette smoke, toxic fumes and chemicals, which cause lung cells to become damaged.
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Although there are many external factors such as tobacco smoke and cigarette smoke that can cause COPD or asthma, hereditary genetic factors can also play a role in being affected by one of the diseases. For example, alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency is also known as hereditary emphysema. Because of the similar causes and how they affect the lungs, COPD symptoms can often appear like an asthma attack and vice versa.
Although the symptoms of COPD and asthma have a large amount of overlap and similarities, there are minor differences between them. For example, the chronic cough often experienced by those with COPD tends to produce more phlegm and mucus than the amount produced by asthma. For this reason, a chronic cough is more common in those with COPD than with asthma.
Additionally, while a person with asthma’s breathing may return to normal between asthma attacks, normal breathing does not return to normal in those with COPD. A person diagnosed with COPD may also have persistent blackness around the nail beds or lips, known as cyanosis, which is not a common symptom in a person with asthma. Cyanosis is a side effect of COPD because the disease prevents the ability to take in the necessary amount of oxygen to maintain a healthy color.
Because COPD is a progressive disease, its symptoms start slowly and gradually get worse over time. A person may start with no or mild symptoms and develop more severe symptoms over many years. On the other hand, asthma can get worse over time, but this is less common.
Wallsthatspeak Copd And Asthma Framed Medical Educational Informational Poster Diagram Doctors Office School Classroom 22×28 Inches
Despite the similarities between the symptoms of asthma and COPD, it can be challenging to diagnose each disease correctly without mistaking one for the other. Asthma is the most common alternative diagnosis of COPD. However, it is important to correctly identify the condition that the patient is facing so that they can get the right treatment.
When a patient has symptoms related to asthma and COPD, there are a few important things that differentiate the two. To create an accurate diagnosis, medical professionals will ask patients dealing with respiratory issues specific questions about their symptoms, such as what time of day they feel worst. They will also ask about the patient’s medical, family and smoking history and exposure to irritants, including gases or vapors.
By asking these open-ended questions, the doctor will get the information they need to determine what is important to the patient. Below are three basic features of each disease that help medical professionals determine the correct diagnosis:
Age is usually the first factor that is considered when lung disease is present because the patient’s age is often the distinguishing factor between asthma and COPD. Although asthma is diagnosed with the first symptoms of difficulty breathing when the patient is a child, COPD is a more common diagnosis in older people. If the patient is over 40 years old and has a history of smoking, COPD is more likely to be the correct diagnosis.
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After assessing the age, investigating what causes the symptoms in the patient is a good way to get to the bottom of the disease. Although experts are still unsure about the exact cause of asthma, medical professionals suspect that the disease is most likely due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors. Common environmental factors that can trigger an asthma attack include pollen, dust and smoke.
In contrast, the cause of COPD is more obvious and easier to identify. Smoking is the leading cause of COPD, with approximately 85%-90% of all COPD deaths attributable to smoking. In addition to smoking, high levels of exposure to air pollution, secondhand smoke and certain chemicals can also be responsible for the development of COPD.
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, the genetic disorder referred to earlier, is another contributing factor to COPD, but accounts for about 2%-3% of COPD cases.
As mentioned above, asthma attacks are often triggered by exposure to certain airborne substances in the environment, such as pollen, dust and smoke. These substances are called triggers and can be a strong indication that asthma is the cause of the patient’s breathing problems. Being outside in cold air and doing vigorous physical activity can also worsen asthma symptoms.
Copd Flare Ups
On the other hand, the triggers of COPD symptoms are more internal. Respiratory infections such as the flu and pneumonia are common triggers of COPD. However, it is possible for some people with COPD to develop symptoms without a known trigger, regardless of whether they were working or resting at the time.
Once the conditions are diagnosed, the medications used to manage asthma and COPD are the same and usually involve an inhaler of some kind. However, some types of treatment and treatment for each disease are different. This section will explore the different methods used to monitor and manage asthma and COPD in everyday life.
There are many treatment options for those diagnosed with asthma to manage the condition. In general, asthma treatment includes preventing asthma attack triggers, monitoring the frequency and severity of symptoms and taking medication. Avoiding triggers can involve anything from keeping pets out of the house to staying indoors when pollen counts are high.
To help monitor asthma symptoms, patients can use a peak flow meter. Basically, a peak flow meter is a device that measures the rate at which a person can blow air out of their lungs. By regularly measuring their peak flow, a patient can monitor whether their asthma is getting better or worse.
Difference Between Copd And Asthma Treatment
Based on a patient’s high flow meter reading, his primary care physician or allergist can tell him how much medicine to take and when. Asthma medications can be divided into four groups:
Like asthma, there are many treatment options for managing COPD. Because COPD is a progressive disease, treatments are designed to help control symptoms and reduce the risk of complications. With a combination of lifestyle changes, medication and rehabilitation therapy, the effects of COPD can be reduced and the progression of the disease can be slowed.
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