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Differences Between COPD and Asthma

Topic Overview

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma both affect the lungs and often have similar symptoms, such as shortness of breath. However, what causes these conditions, how they affect the lungs, and whom they affect differ.

**Differences between COPD and asthma**
	COPD	Asthma
Who?	Smokers Mostly older adults	Smokers and nonsmokers Any age group
How?	Nonallergic response to cigarette smoke or other inhaled toxins Genetic factors	Allergic and nonallergic responses to substances that are not usually harmful to people without asthma
Result?	Inflammation and damage to airways in the lung and lung tissue Lung function cannot be completely reversed, even with treatment Usually no or little improvement with short-acting beta2-agonists	Variable inflammation of the lungs' airways Often have large improvement with short-acting beta2-agonists Usually completely reversible with treatment
Symptoms?	Chronic symptoms that get worse over time	Intermittent or persistent symptoms Acute episodes often occur

Related Information

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Credits

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology
Last Revised	May 4, 2010

By:

Healthwise Staff

Last Revised: May 4, 2010

Medical Review:

Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Ken Y. Yoneda, MD - Pulmonology

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