Though chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma both cause severe respiratory symptoms, they’re not the same disease. Since the treatments for these illnesses also differ, you need to know how to identify whether you’re dealing with asthma or COPD.
Asthma has several possible causes including genetics, allergies, and viral respiratory illnesses as a child. You can develop adult-onset asthma from exposure to environmental irritants as well as smoking.
COPD is primarily caused by smoking but some people with asthma have been known to develop the condition.
Generally, asthma doesn’t worsen over time. Some people have even had their symptoms get more manageable as they get older.
With COPD, you’re likely to see the disease progress.
Asthma is typically triggered by allergens, exercise, and cold air.
If you have COPD, some of the triggers you may have include air pollution, strong fragrances, extreme temperatures, cleaning chemicals, and respiratory tract infections.
RELATED: COPD: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments
Asthma is predominantly diagnosed in children. While adults can develop asthma, that form of the disease is generally caused by environmental factors.
COPD, on the other hand, is only diagnosed in adults.
It’s typical for asthma to be diagnosed from a physical exam and a discussion of your medical history.
To diagnose COPD, doctors usually require further tests to confirm that diagnosis. These tests may include a chest X-ray, CT scan, or an arterial blood gas test. You may also need to do a spirometry test, which checks how well your lungs are working.
While both diseases affect the lungs, they can present differently. With asthma, you can have a tight chest, wheezing, a cough that worsens at night, and breathlessness. Being exposed to triggers can cause an asthma attack that needs to be addressed with a rescue inhaler. When you’re having a severe asthma attack, the symptoms generally worsen to include a fast heartbeat, being too breathless to speak or sleep, drowsiness, and fainting. These kinds of attacks usually mean you need to seek emergency care.
On the other hand, people with COPD can have a chronic cough that produces mucus, frequent respiratory infections, reduced energy, unexplained weight loss, and swollen extremities in addition to wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. If you’re exposed to a COPD trigger, these symptoms can worsen to the point of needing a visit to the emergency room.
RELATED: What Causes Asthma? The 6 Most Common Causes
The treatment options for COPD and asthma have some similarities depending on your symptoms. It’s also important to note that asthma can’t be cured but the symptoms can be managed. It’s not likely for the condition to get worse once you’re being treated. However, COPD is a progressive condition that will worsen over time. Treating it will only slow the progression of the disease.
For asthma, doctors commonly prescribe different types of inhalers. Some inhalers are only necessary when you’re having an attack and others have to be used every day to ensure that you don’t have an attack. If inhalers are not enough, you can be prescribed other medications such as steroids to keep your symptoms under control. Under extreme circumstances, you may undergo a procedure known as thermoplasty, that uses heat to stop the narrowing of the airways.
If you have COPD, inhalers and steroids are likely to be prescribed. There are also specific medications for COPD such as phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitors. Given that you’re more prone to develop respiratory infections with COPD, you can also receive antibiotics to treat them. Another part of this illness’ treatment is lung therapy. This can include oxygen therapy or a pulmonary rehabilitation program, which are designed to increase your oxygen levels. Finally, you may qualify for different lung surgeries, including a lung transplant.
COPD and asthma can significantly affect your life because of how they impact your respiratory system. While the conditions can feel or look similar, they’re very different. It’s essential to know the distinction so you can get diagnosed and treated effectively.
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