Differences Between COPD and Asthma
Topic Overview
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and
asthma both affect the lungs and often have similar
symptoms, such as shortness of breath. However, what causes these conditions,
how they affect the lungs, and whom they affect differ.
Differences between COPD and asthma | | COPD | Asthma |
|---|
| Who? | - Smokers
- Mostly older
adults
| - Smokers and non-smokers
- Any age
group
|
|---|
| How? | - Non-allergic response to cigarette smoke or
other inhaled toxins
- Genetic factors
| - Allergic and
non-allergic responses to substances that are not usually harmful to people
without asthma
|
|---|
| Result? | - Inflammation and damage to airways in the
lung and lung tissue
- Lung function cannot be completely reversed,
even with treatment
- Usually no or little improvement with
short-acting beta2-agonists
| - Variable inflammation of the lungs'
airways
- Often have large improvement with short-acting
beta2-agonists
- Some lung function is reversible with treatment
|
|---|
| Symptoms? | - Chronic symptoms that get worse over
time
| - Intermittent or persistent
symptoms
- Acute episodes often occur
|
|---|
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Brian D. O'Brien, MD - Internal Medicine |
|---|
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology |
|---|
| Last Revised | January 27, 2012 |
|---|
Last Revised:
January 27, 2012
