How Asthma and COPD Are Different
You've had bouts of coughing and wheezing lately and noticed you're more short of breath than usual after climbing the stairs. You may think you're just "out of shape" or overweight, or that it's a result of your asthma. If you are a nonsmoker, asthma is the most likely cause, but it could be something more. Some doctors now believe that untreated or undertreated asthma can lead to a condition called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While much of an asthma attack is reversible, there is little about COPD that is reversible. It can cause permanent damage to the lungs.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a breathing problem that makes it more difficult for air to get in and out of your lungs.
When a person has asthma, the breathing tubes are sensitive. They may react to smoke, pollen, dust, air pollution, allergies, or other triggers. In a person with asthma, the breathing tubes may tighten, becoming inflamed and swollen.
When the breathing tubes react or when they get inflamed, they become narrow and that makes it harder for you to breathe.
Asthma or COPD?
Asthma and COPD are hard to tell apart because they have similar symptoms — shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. Exposure to certain conditions or situations such as cold weather, infections, and exercise can make symptoms of both conditions worse. But there are some differences:
| Asthma | COPD |
|---|---|
| The onset of asthma typically occurs during childhood or adolescence | COPD most often develops in smokers and former smokers who are in their mid-40s |
| Asthma attacks often have identifiable triggers such as allergens, cold air or exercise | Worsening of COPD symptoms is commonly caused by respiratory tract infections |
| With treatment, asthma patients are symptom-free between asthma attacks | COPD patients rarely experience a day without symptoms |
| With treatment, asthma patients have near-normal lung function | Airflow obstruction in people with COPD is only partly reversible with treatment and smoking cessation |
If you notice signs of COPD, see your doctor to determine the best form of treatment. And if your asthma feels out of control, talk to your doctor about how you can manage it and avoid COPD.
