What is the difference between asthma and COPD (chronic obstructive lung disease)?
COPD is a collective name for chronic bronchitis and emphysema, two diseases that are almost always caused by smoking. Many of the symptoms of COPD are similar to those of asthma (e.g. breathlessness, wheezing, production of too much mucus, coughing). COPD is generally a more serious disease than asthma, because the changes in the airways are much more difficult to treat, and it usually has a worse outcome. Unfortunately, COPD can cause greater long-term disability and have a greater effect on the heart and other organ systems than asthma. Is emphysema the same as asthma? No, emphysema is different from asthma, although some of the symptoms, such as wheezing and difficulty in breathing, may seem similar. Emphysema is a disease in which the cavities in the lungs have been irreversibly damaged by external factors, such as smoking or severe air pollution. Some people are more likely to develop emphysema than others, and there are hereditary forms of the condition. Asthma is a condition ca
