COPD and Asthma
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It is a well-documented fact; while the symptoms of the COPD and Asthma may be similar; they are very different. In essence, Asthma is the inflammatory disorder of airways that causes attacks of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. In facts, when Asthma attack occurs, muscles that pass airways become tight and as a result, reduce air to pass by. Medical experts outline that, Asthma is most triggered by various substances such as dust, animal fur, pollen, tobacco smoke, respiratory infection, mold and chemicals found in the food. In conjunction with this, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is among the most common lung disease, which like Asthma causes difficult in breathing. In many cases, COPD causes coughing in a slimy substance, chest tightness, wheezing, difficult in breathing. The disease is mostly attributed by chemical fumes, air pollution and lung irritants. Having discussed this, it is essential to note that, there are a number of differences and similarities between COPD and Asthma. With regard, this paper seeks to analyze how COPD differ from the Asthma by outlining both similarities and differences of COPD and Asthma.
Asthma
In essence, Asthma is the disease common characterized by chronic inflammatory whose symptoms keep on recurring. The disease causes constriction of airways resulting to difficult in breathing. The disease attack is different in that; each individual has the degree of reactivity to the environmental trigger. Asthma is classified based on the frequency of symptoms. In thought, the disease is outline to be caused by the combination of environmental and genetic factors. The environmental factors associated with asthma include air pollutants that include dust, animal fur, pollen, tobacco smoke, respiratory infection, mold and chemicals. Additionally, psychological stress is also suspected to trigger Asthma in the sense that, stress affects the immune system thus, increasing the magnitude of the response of inflammatory allergens with irritants. In addition, respiration infection has also been outlined to cause asthma. In conjunction with this, the genetic variants is also said to be the major cause which becomes worse when the victim is exposed to the environmental cause of asthma.
It is borne in mind; asthma begins at an early age mostly during childhood especially in the family histories of allergies, hay fever or eczema. Nevertheless, in few cases, it begins at an old age stimulated by environmental causes of asthma. Asthma symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, bluish colors to the face and lips, rapid pulse, sweating, chest tightness and irregular breathing pattern. The key treatment of asthma is to stay away from substances that control airway inflammation and trigger symptoms. Other treatments include controlling drugs that prevent attacks, quick relief drugs during attacks and inhaler to prevent airways from swelling.
Medical expects believe there is no cure for Asthma although in some cases, symptoms improve over a time. With suitable medical treatment and management, victims with asthma can live normal lives. Nevertheless, the complication of asthma causes death.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the lung disease defined by a long-term cough and destruction of lungs. The disease is comprised by three related conditions that include chronic asthma, chronic bronchitis and emphysema. In facts, each condition has chronic obstruction of air flow in the airways and out the lungs. In this regard, the obstruction is permanent and progressive over a time. Often, patients with COPD experience fatigue, cough that has mucus, wheezing, recurrent respiratory infections and difficult in breathing. It is borne in mind; the symptoms are chronic in the sense that, occur frequently.
Subsequently, causes of COPD are smoking and in few cases caused by inhaled fumes, chemicals, pollution, chemicals and dust. Fundamentally, COPD has no cure but, there are medication used to relieve symptoms by keeping the disease from being worse. In this regard, medications used to treat OCPD are inhalers to open airways, inhaled steroids for reducing lung inflammation and in severe cases surgery treatment that involve removing lung diseased. It is also recommended to avoid smoking areas, cold air and air pollutants. It is important to note that, under severe cases, the disease causes death.
Differences between COPD and Asthma
First, in many cases asthma starts occur in childhood while COPD occur later in adult hood. Secondly, Asthma does not worsen with age on the other hand; COPD tends to worsen over time. Thirdly, asthma is mostly caused by allergens, weather, stress and heredity while COPD is directly caused by smoking and in few cases caused by pollution, chemicals, dust and inhaled fumes. Fourthly, Asthma is often linked with symptoms in form of attack while COPD has chronic symptoms that tend to occur frequently. Fifthly, almost all COPD patients have smoke or exposed to a smoke exposure environment, while asthma patients more often are non-smokers. Sixthly, in COPD symptoms there is cough in mucus form, while asthma is pure cough. Seventhly, the key asthma treatment is to free symptoms that trigger the attack, while the key COPD treatment is to stop the progression of lung damage and decrease exacerbations. Finally, COPD affects both airways with parenchyma, while asthma only affects airways.
Similarities between COPD and Asthma
In facts, both COPD and Asthma have various similarities such as, both are chronic inflammatory diseases, which involve small airways which limit airflow thus, difficult in breathing. Secondly, both diseases are caused by similar environment factors such as air pollution, dust, smoke and chemicals among others. Thirdly, the medications of both diseases are similar for instance, inhalers to open airways, avoiding air pollution and any environment factor that may trigger the diseases. Fourthly, there are similar symptoms in both diseases that include difficult in breathing, wheezing, chest tightness and irregular breathing problems. Fifthly, both diseases do not have cure but, there are various medications used to relieve symptoms that keep each disease from getting worse. Sixthly, both COPD and Asthma victims are issued with antibiotics that are prescribed to reduce symptoms from getting worse. Finally, both COPD and Asthma result to death in severe cases.
In conclusion, it important to note that, both COPD and Asthma are severe disease, which requires effective treatment. Failure for treatment, with no doubt; both diseases become severe to the extent of causing death. By the fact that both diseases are considered inflammatory diseases it is with no doubt; they require proper monitoring in order for the patient to live well. As discussed in this paper, both COPD and Asthma are most triggered by various substances such as dust, animal fur, pollen, tobacco smoke, respiratory infection, mold and chemicals found in the food; it is essential to avoid such triggers of attacks. With this in mind, this paper has analyzed how COPD differ from the Asthma by outlining both similarities and differences of COPD and Asthma.
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