Asthma & COPD

Overview

Asthma and COPD are long-term lung conditions that narrow the airways and make breathing difficult. Asthma often starts in childhood and comes in attacks triggered by allergies, smoke or infections. COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphysema) usually affects smokers and older adults and slowly gets worse. Both can be well controlled with the right inhalers.

Causes

• Inflamed, sensitive airways (asthma)
• Long-term damage from smoking or smoke (COPD)
• Triggers: dust, pollen, smog, cold air, infections and exercise

Risk factors

• Smoking and second-hand smoke
• Allergies and eczema
• Family history of asthma
• Air pollution and indoor smoke from wood or coal
• Dusty workplaces

Symptoms

• Shortness of breath
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Cough, often at night or with phlegm
• Breathlessness on activity

Diagnosis

Your doctor will listen to your chest and test your breathing with a peak flow meter or spirometry. A chest X-ray may be done to rule out other problems.

Management

• Reliever inhalers for quick relief and preventer inhalers taken every day, as prescribed
• Learning the correct inhaler technique, often with a spacer
• Avoiding smoke and triggers; masks on smoggy days
• Stopping smoking (COPD)
• Flu and pneumonia vaccines as advised

When to see a doctor