Asthma and COPD are respiratory conditions that constrict the airways and make it difficult to breathe. The symptoms of both conditions are similar but they are different types of respiratory illnesses.
| 5.4 million | 200,000 | 3 children |
| people in the UK are affected by asthma | people have severe asthma where they don’t respond to the usual treatments | suffering from asthma are present in every class in the UK |
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that usually begins during childhood. It is quite a common health condition and mainly affects children. People with asthma have trouble breathing and may have wheezing and coughing episodes. Things like dust, pollen, fur, pollution, and smoke can act as triggers.
These triggers inflame the bronchioles in the lungs and lead to asthma symptoms.
Allergic asthma: This is caused by a reaction to a specific allergen
Occupational asthma: This type occurs when you have a reaction to an allergen at your workplace
Exercise-induced asthma: Your airways can narrow when you exercise leading to exercise asthma
Seasonal asthma: This type of asthma is triggered by allergens that are found during certain times of the year
Adult-onset asthma: It is often caused during your adulthood as a result of infection or exercise. It might also flare up when you get excited or are laughing too hard
COPD, abbreviated for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is a condition that affects the ability to breathe. This is a progressive disease along with being chronic, which means it worsens over time. There are, in general, four stages of COPD.
It causes an obstruction of the airflow to the lungs, making it harder to breathe. COPD is often linked to long-term exposure to a trigger e.g., smoking, pollution or a workplace irritant.
It is easy to confuse asthma and COPD since they have some similar symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. Despite the common factors, they differ in a few ways. One of the main differences is the age you start showing symptoms. Those with asthma usually get diagnosed as children but those with COPD get diagnosed in their 40s.
The triggering factors are also different for asthma and COPD. Asthma usually gets worse by cold air, exercise or allergens. On the other hand, COPD worsens with respiratory infections like pneumonia, flu, or even exposure to air pollution.
The asthma triggers can differ one from individual to another, but all of them lead to the same symptoms of breathlessness, wheezing, and coughing. Asthma triggers include pollen, types of chemicals, animal dander, dust, mould, perfumes, exercise, industrial fumes, smoke, and air pollution. They can also include bacteria and viruses like the common cold.
COPD triggers include smog and kinds of air pollution, cigarette smoke, strong fumes of perfumes and other types of scents, and pollen. Cold, hot or humid air can also act as COPD triggers.
Coughing
Shortness of breath
Wheezing
Anxiety
Tightness in the chest
Increasing breathlessness
Frequent chest infections
Cough with phlegm that does not go away
Persistent wheezing
Chest tightness
Breathing problems after exercise
Tiredness and fatigue
Unfortunately, there is no cure for asthma. However, there are a number of effective treatments available that help in relieving the symptoms and preventing them from coming on and recurring.
There is currently no cure for COPD and you cannot reverse the damage that is already done to the lungs. However, with proper management, people with COPD can have a good quality of life. An early diagnosis can help in slowing lung deterioration and reducing the symptoms. So, see your GP as soon as possible if you develop symptoms.
One of the most common treatments for asthma and COPD is inhalers apart from oral medication. You will find a range of medications on MedsNow. Clear instructions are given on how to use inhalers if you haven’t used them before. The physician will prescribe medicines based on the type of asthma you have or depending on the signs of COPD.
Aerivio Spiromax
Alvesco
Propanolol
Though the exact cause of asthma is still unknown, it has been determined that asthma can be caused by hereditary as well as environmental factors. If a parent has asthma, it doesn’t mean the child will have it too. However, the child may have a higher tendency to develop the condition.
If you are above 20 years of age when diagnosed with asthma, it is considered as adult-onset asthma. It can be caused by exposure to irritants or allergens such as chemicals, cigarette smoke, dust, or any substance found at home or the workplace. Prolonged exposure to workplace materials can also trigger the symptoms.
The exact reason why asthma gets worse at night is not known, however, some explanations include cooling of airways at night, hormone secretions that follow a circadian pattern, and being in a reclined position.
Asthma can be controlled to a great degree but it cannot be cured completely. Patients who develop asthma in their childhood may often find that it resolves by the time they become adults.
For most people, asthma can be considered as virtually cured since their medication can be that effective. However, asthma can only be managed and not cured as no one particular treatment would suffice for everyone. Everyone has different types of asthma and different triggers, and one type of medication will not work for everybody.
There are certain foods that you must avoid if you have asthma because they act as triggers. These include eggs, peanuts, cow’s milk, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish, and tree nuts.
When you have asthma, it limits your body’s ability to breathe in oxygen. When you don’t get enough oxygen in the body, you will most likely feel tired or get chest pain.
Stress is a common symptom of asthma. It may cause shortness of breath and worsen your asthma symptoms.
Asthma causes inflamed, swollen bronchial tubes in the lungs and sometimes this inflammation can damage your lungs. This is why it is critical to manage asthma as soon as it is detected.
The doctor will diagnose your asthma by first discussing your medical history and performing a physical exam. You may need a lung function test as well along with a few other tests like a chest X-ray.
Common asthma symptoms in adults include wheezing or coughing whereas silent asthma has no warning or wheezing before a patient feels breathless.
As asthma constricts the airways, it can lead to nighttime coughing, breathlessness, and wheezing which can cause difficulty during sleep. It can also cause you to wake up frequently during the night. This condition is known as nocturnal asthma where the symptoms may get worse at night.
This test measures the distance one can walk quickly on a hard, flat surface in 6 minutes. It helps in measuring the health of lungs. Since COPD affects everyone differently, testing the lung function and exercise tolerance through the 6-minute walk test will help the doctor come up with the best treatment plan.
Lifestyle changes and monitoring the symptoms closely help in COPD from progressing. Avoid smoking and maintain a healthy diet and weight. Exercise regularly and take medicines as prescribed.
(GPhC Reg: 2061101)
(GPhC Reg: 2086766)
