Get All the Facts About Asthma and COPD
When it comes to respiratory health, it's important to understand the differences between COPD and asthma to ensure that you get the proper treatment. Our specialty pharmacy team offers patient support programs for respiratory health.
What is COPD?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a lung condition made up of chronic bronchitis (a condition that affects the airways) and emphysema (a condition that damages air sacs in the lungs) that causes difficulty in breathing. Symptoms include persistent coughing and wheezing when breathing, breathlessness, tiredness, phlegm, edema, and can lead to complications such as heart failure. There is no cure for COPD, and symptoms of this chronic condition should be managed with an action plan to improve an individual's quality of life.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a lung condition characterized by inflammation, increased mucus and tightening of the airways, which can make it difficult to breathe. Asthma can be triggered by a wide range of external factors: allergens (animal dander, moulds, pollen, and others), external irritants (detergents, insulation and packaging materials, antibiotics, and others) and non-allergic irritants (smog, smoke, vigorous exercise, viral infections, and others). Asthma varies in its severity, and typical symptoms include: chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing. Asthma is a chronic condition, and currently, no cure exists. Therefore, it is important to manage your asthma with an action plan to help alleviate symptoms.
COPD vs Asthma
Using the chart below, learn more about the differences and similarities between these two conditions.
COPD
- Age of onset: Middle age, usually > 40 years
- Smoking History: Common, >20 plus years
- Allergy: Uncommon
- Family History: Not common
- Key Features: Cough, difficulty breathing, expectoration
- Phlegm: Often copious
- Symptom Free Period: It is chronic and progressive without any symptom free period
- Difficulty Breathing: Progressive, persistent (with exacerbation)
Asthma
- Age of onset: Any age
- Smoking History: May or may not be present
- Allergy: Common - rhinitis, eczema, skin prick positive, eosinophils
- Family History: Common
- Key Features: Cough, wheeze, chest tightness, difficulty breathing
- Phlegm: Infrequent
- Symptom Free Period: There is recurrent attack but the patient is usually symptom free in between attacks. However, in chronic bronchial asthma, the features may be persistent.
- Difficulty Breathing: Intermittent and variable, vary from day to day and peak at night and in early morning
Speak to your Rexall Pharmacist
If you're taking asthma or COPD medication(s), your pharmacist can help you manage symptoms and side effects, review your medications, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an exacerbation of COPD?
According to global COPD guidelines, an exacerbation is defined as an acute worsening of respiratory symptoms. If you have an exacerbation, your healthcare provider can make changes to your asthma treatment plan so that you can get the most out of your care and minimize symptoms.
Why is it important to monitor my COPD?
Being proactive in taking care of your symptoms can help to prevent exacerbations. Regular assessments, even when you are feeling well, are crucial to optimizing your management and preventing issues from occurring to get the most out of your breathing and daily functioning.
When should I seek medical care for my COPD?
If you experience any of the following symptoms for more than 48 hours, speak to your healthcare Provider:
- More fatigue or shortness of breath than usual
- More coughing than usual
- A change in colour of your mucus – can be yellow, green, or brown
- An increase in the amount, thickness or stickiness of the mucus
- A fever, sore throat or cold symptoms
- Swollen ankles
- Need to sleep sitting up instead of lying down
- Feeling unusually sick or unwell
Why is proper inhaler adherence so important?
Your inhaler is what helps to ensure the medication is getting to the right spot in your airways to help you breathe. When an inhaler is used improperly, it means the medication may not get to where it needs to do its job. Inhaler misuse is associated with poorer quality of life and increased risk of hospitalization. If you are unsure if you are using your inhaler correctly, your pharmacist can assess and demonstrate proper inhaler technique.