Asthma
Know the Difference Between Asthma & COPD? Our Marin, CA Home Care Agency Can Help.
Chronic coughing. Shortness of breath. Wheezing. Think it might be an asthma attack? Before reaching for the inhaler or those over-the-counter cough drops, however, it might be time to consider if another culprit – COPD – could be a factor. As many as 12 million Americans are currently living with COPD (and another 12 million who are likely to have the disease but have not been diagnosed), so it’s important to figure out the real cause behind the cough.
Here are some of the major differences between asthma and COPD:
Asthma:
Environmental factors such as cigarette smoke, dust, and pet hair can trigger asthmatic symptoms like coughing and shortness of breath.
Usually displays in patients in childhood, often by age 5.
Thought to be caused by genetics.
COPD:
Environmental triggers can exacerbate symptoms like coughing and difficulty breathing, but these symptoms are often present in a milder … Read More »
