Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a general term that describes progressive respiratory diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is characterized by decreased airflow over time, as well as inflammation of the tissues that line the airway.
Asthma is usually considered a separate respiratory disease, but sometimes it’s mistaken for COPD. The two have similar symptoms. These symptoms include chronic coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
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According to the National Institutes of HealthTrusted Source (NIH), around 24 million Americans have COPD. About half of them don’t know that they have it. Paying attention to symptoms — especially in people who smoke, or even used to smoke — can help those with COPD get an earlier diagnosis. Early diagnosis can be crucial to preserving lung function in people with COPD.
About 40 percentTrusted Source of people who have COPD also have asthma. Asthma is considered a risk factor for developing COPD. Your chance of getting this dual diagnosis increases as you age.
Asthma and COPD may seem similar, but taking a closer look at the following factors can help you tell to the difference between the two conditions.
Age
Airway obstruction occurs with both diseases. The age of initial presentation is often the distinguishing feature between COPD and asthma.
People who have asthma are typically diagnosed as children, as noted by Dr. Neil Schachter, medical director of the respiratory care department of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. On the other hand, COPD symptoms usually show up only in adults over the age of 40 who are current or former smokers, according to the NIHTrusted Source.
Read More At https://www.healthline.com/health/copd/asthma Source Of Blog Content.
