Difference between Asthma and COPD

Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) are two lung illnesses that are often misdiagnosed or misunderstood because their symptoms are similar and their capacity to disrupt the breath pattern is comparable. They could share certain characteristics, but they are not identical. The airway blockage in asthma can be reversed, but in COPD it cannot. You should read on if you want to learn more about these breathing problems.

What is Asthma?

The respiratory illness known as bronchial asthma (BA) is characterized by a persistent inflammatory process, reversible airway constriction, and airway hyperreactivity. This is commonly brought on by the body's immunological response to a foreign substance or by coming into touch with a microscopic particle. Cells are swollen and plugged with mucus; mucus is secreted, and the basement membranes are thickened.

The symptoms include a cough and wheezing that worsens during the day, and the sputum has a thin, white color. Here, the patient's lungs will be heard making wheezing noises (rhonchi) on both sides. Oxygen and bronchodilators such as beta−agonists are used in the treatment of this illness, and the chronic inflammatory process is suppressed with the help of long−term corticosteroid use. Death can occur suddenly from an asthma episode or respiratory failure if the condition is not controlled.

What is COPD?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an incurable lung disease caused by prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke or other airborne particles. A genetic predisposition also plays a role. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are the two most common types of COPD. Persistent irritation of the respiratory tract lining results in the production of mucus and the spreading of infectious germs, leading to chronic bronchitis.

In the absence of diurnal fluctuation, the symptoms often include difficulty breathing and the generation of copious volumes of sputum that is typically purulent alongside a cough. Emphysema is characterized by permanent bronchial dilatation, both in terms of distance to the terminal and distant bronchi. As a result, less air is exhaled during inspiration. A barrel chest, rhonchi and crepitations, pursed−lip breathing, and a little blue tint to the lips are all indications that can be elicited. Ipratropium bromide, an anticholinergic medication, corticosteroids, and oxygen treatment at a decreased partial pressure of around 24−28% are used to treat these conditions.

Antibiotics must be used to treat any infection in the respiratory system. Respiratory failure, repeated infections, and the development of pneumothorax are all possible outcomes of this illness.

Differences: Asthma and COPD

The following table highlights how Asthma is different from COPD −

Conclusion

The symptoms of many respiratory disorders tend to be very similar to one another. However, there are defining features that you need to understand to tell them apart. These breathing disorders can be diagnosed by a variety of methods. An accurate diagnosis is crucial because it forms the foundation for effective therapy.