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Asthma vs. COPD: Similarities and differences
Asthma vs. COPD: Similarities and Differences by Michael Schatz, MD, FAAAAI
You can't breathe when you exert yourself. You also have coughing episodes every morning. Two potential causes for this: You could have asthma or you could have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a broader category of conditions which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Because asthma and COPD have a number of similarities, sometimes it can be difficult even for your doctor to distinguish between them. However, when your doctor takes into account all of the relevant information - - your symptoms and medical history as well as the results from medical tests - - he or she will be able to determine which condition you have. Symptoms
Both asthma and COPD may cause shortness of breath during exertion and a cough. A daily morning cough that produces phlegm is particularly characteristic of the chronic bronchitis type of COPD. Episodes of wheezing and chest tightness, especially at night, are more common with asthma. In addition, patients with asthma are more likely to have previously experienced other allergic symptoms, such as hay fever or an itchy skin rash called eczema. History of Smoking
COPD is almost always associated with a long history of smoking, while asthma occurs in non-smokers as well as smokers. However, smoking can make asthma worse, and smokers may suffer from a combination of asthma and COPD. Medical
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Medical Tests Chest X-Rays: Chest x-ray findings may be normal in patients with either asthma or COPD. However, too much air in the lungs, called hyperaeration, may be seen in the emphysema type of COPD. Increased lung markings may be seen on an x-ray when a person has chronic bronchitis.
Mlergy Tests: Many patients with asthma have allergies to environmental materials, such as house dust mites, molds and animal dander. These allergies, which can be confirmed by an allergist through skin or blood tests, may trigger asthma. Allergies appear to have nothing to do with COPD.
Pulmonary Function Tests: Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with both COPD and asthma may demonstrate airway obstruction. However, the obstruction is caused by lung damage in patients with COPD, while it is generally caused by inflammation in patients with asthma. The obstruction present with asthma improves substantially when the patient takes medications called bronchodilators, which open up the constricted airways in the lungs. The PFT scores, taken after administration of bronchodilators, reflect this improvement. With COPD, there is little change in PFT scores after the use of bronchodilators. It is important to distinguish between asthma and COPD. The treatment for the two conditions is different, and you will greatly benefit from an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. Whether you have asthma, COPD, or both, make sure you see your doctor regularly for medical treatment of your condition.
Mature Matters has beenprovided by
Examination
When your doctor listens to your breathing with a stethoscope, he or she is more likely to hear wheezing when you have asthma than when you have COPD. A "barrel IA MAGAZINE
chest," due to too much air trapped in the lungs, is more characteristic of COPD.
call
1.800.527.3284
AMERICANACADEMYOF ALLERGY ASTHMA& IMMUNOLOGY www.aaaai.org
You can't breathe when you exert yourself. You also have coughing episodes every morning. Two potential causes for this: You could have asthma or you could have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a broader category of conditions which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Because asthma and COPD have a number of similarities, sometimes it can be difficult even for your doctor to distinguish between them. However, when your doctor takes into account all of the relevant information - - your symptoms and medical history as well as the results from medical tests - - he or she will be able to determine which condition you have. Symptoms
Both asthma and COPD may cause shortness of breath during exertion and a cough. A daily morning cough that produces phlegm is particularly characteristic of the chronic bronchitis type of COPD. Episodes of wheezing and chest tightness, especially at night, are more common with asthma. In addition, patients with asthma are more likely to have previously experienced other allergic symptoms, such as hay fever or an itchy skin rash called eczema. History of Smoking
COPD is almost always associated with a long history of smoking, while asthma occurs in non-smokers as well as smokers. However, smoking can make asthma worse, and smokers may suffer from a combination of asthma and COPD. Medical
to
subscribe
Medical Tests Chest X-Rays: Chest x-ray findings may be normal in patients with either asthma or COPD. However, too much air in the lungs, called hyperaeration, may be seen in the emphysema type of COPD. Increased lung markings may be seen on an x-ray when a person has chronic bronchitis.
Mlergy Tests: Many patients with asthma have allergies to environmental materials, such as house dust mites, molds and animal dander. These allergies, which can be confirmed by an allergist through skin or blood tests, may trigger asthma. Allergies appear to have nothing to do with COPD.
Pulmonary Function Tests: Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with both COPD and asthma may demonstrate airway obstruction. However, the obstruction is caused by lung damage in patients with COPD, while it is generally caused by inflammation in patients with asthma. The obstruction present with asthma improves substantially when the patient takes medications called bronchodilators, which open up the constricted airways in the lungs. The PFT scores, taken after administration of bronchodilators, reflect this improvement. With COPD, there is little change in PFT scores after the use of bronchodilators. It is important to distinguish between asthma and COPD. The treatment for the two conditions is different, and you will greatly benefit from an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan. Whether you have asthma, COPD, or both, make sure you see your doctor regularly for medical treatment of your condition.
Mature Matters has beenprovided by
Examination
When your doctor listens to your breathing with a stethoscope, he or she is more likely to hear wheezing when you have asthma than when you have COPD. A "barrel IA MAGAZINE
chest," due to too much air trapped in the lungs, is more characteristic of COPD.
call
1.800.527.3284
AMERICANACADEMYOF ALLERGY ASTHMA& IMMUNOLOGY www.aaaai.org