Why is asthma an obstructive lung disease?

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are lung diseases. Both cause swelling in your airways that makes it hard to breathe. With asthma, the swelling is often triggered by something you’re allergic to, like pollen or mold, or by physical activity.

Is asthma classed as a chronic respiratory disease?

Chronic respiratory diseases are chronic diseases of the airways and other structures of the lung. Two of the most common are asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Why is asthma not considered COPD?

Asthma and COPD are both chronic lung diseases. COPD is mainly due to damage caused by smoking, while asthma is due to an inflammatory reaction. COPD is a progressive disease, while allergic reactions of asthma can be reversible.

Is asthma a COPD or restrictive?

In cases of obstructive lung diseases, such as asthma, bronchiectasis, COPD, and emphysema, the lungs are unable to expel air properly during exhalation. Restrictive lung diseases, on the other hand, mean the lungs are unable to fully expand, so they limit the amount of oxygen taken in during inhalation.

Is asthma considered a lung disease?

Asthma is a lung disease that makes it harder to move air in and out of your lungs.

Is asthma considered a pulmonary disease?

Asthma is also a pulmonary disease in which there is obstruction to the flow of air out of the lungs, but the obstruction is usually reversible and between attacks of asthma the flow of air through the airways is usually good.

Does asthma ever turn into emphysema?

Asthma is NOT “caused by Emphysema”, but rather as a long term and poorly controlled problem, is attributable as a “cause” of emphysema. Wheezing is the result of air moving through the airways in a turbulent fashion – – – FOR WHAT EVER CAUSE.

Is severe asthma and COPD the same?

However, the pathophysiology of asthma and COPD are very different. While the symptoms may be similar, the process leading up to the symptoms is different. Both asthma and COPD may be considered inflammatory diseases, but the inflammation comes from different types of cells.

Can asthma progress to COPD?

In some cases asthma can progress to COPD, but most people with asthma are able to control the inflammation of the bronchi with medication and can have long periods of time when they have few, if any, symptoms. While medications can help slow the course of COPD, it is progressive and the damage to the bronchi and alveoli is not reversible.

Asthma is also a pulmonary disease in which there is obstruction to the flow of air out of the lungs, but the obstruction is usually reversible and between attacks of asthma the flow of air through the airways is usually good.

Asthma is NOT “caused by Emphysema”, but rather as a long term and poorly controlled problem, is attributable as a “cause” of emphysema. Wheezing is the result of air moving through the airways in a turbulent fashion – – – FOR WHAT EVER CAUSE.

However, the pathophysiology of asthma and COPD are very different. While the symptoms may be similar, the process leading up to the symptoms is different. Both asthma and COPD may be considered inflammatory diseases, but the inflammation comes from different types of cells.

In some cases asthma can progress to COPD, but most people with asthma are able to control the inflammation of the bronchi with medication and can have long periods of time when they have few, if any, symptoms. While medications can help slow the course of COPD, it is progressive and the damage to the bronchi and alveoli is not reversible.