Uncontrolled asthma can lead to emergency room visits, hospitalizations and even premature death, according to allergist Myron Zitt, MD, past president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI).

If you have <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/video-different-types-asthma">asthma</a>, it is critical that you take your medication as directed, see your pulmonologist regularly and avoid allergy triggers to ensure you don&#39;t struggle to breathe. Here are some common missteps to avoid:

Not taking your symptoms seriously 
If you have symptoms more than two days a week that cause you to reach for your fast-acting relief inhaler&mdash;or find yourself waking up at night wheezing&mdash;see your doctor to discuss other asthma control options, such as inhaled corticosteroids, which may help address the airway inflammation that occurs with asthma.

Ignoring allergies 
<a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/video-how-common-allergic-asthma">Allergens</a> are an asthma trigger for many people, and Zitt recommends undergoing allergy testing to learn what sparks a reaction and gain guidance in avoiding these allergenic triggers.

Not using your medication preventatively 
Patients who are prescribed a daily medication for asthma must take their medication every day. Yet when symptoms appear to be under control, some patients may skip doses or forget doses. Unfortunately, non-adherence to a treatment plan can lead to poorly controlled symptoms. Zitt stresses that it&#39;s always best to take your medicine regularly to prevent attacks rather than waiting until your symptoms hit and then trying to deal with them.

Not using your inhaler properly 
Many asthma patients do not administer the medication from their inhalers properly, which means they aren&#39;t getting the full benefits of the medicine, Zitt admits. &quot;Using inhaled medication requires instruction and practice to learn how to get it into the lower airways,&quot; he explains. Your doctor or pharmacist can review the technique with you. If you can&#39;t get the timing right, inquire about using an inexpensive device called a spacer, which may make the process easier to coordinate.

Not having a current asthma action plan in place 
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute guidelines indicate that doctors should give each patient with asthma an individualized written plan. The plan should spell out the patient&#39;s triggers, his or her control medications and dosage, the warning signs that an <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/video-what-is-asthma-attack">attack</a> is impending and detailed directions on how to respond, such as increasing inhaler frequency, using a nebulizer or taking an oral steroid.

Not taking care of your health 
Part of controlling asthma is staying healthy. Take precautions to avoid getting sick. Get your annual flu shot as well as a pneumococcal vaccine, wash your hands frequently and steer clear of germy places. If you do become ill, you&#39;ll need to be on the lookout for asthma symptoms and respond by increasing your asthma medicines according to your asthma action plan.

Not working with your healthcare provider 
Understanding asthma and working as a team with your healthcare providers is vital to managing asthma. The good news is that with proper planning and communication, asthma can be managed.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

7 Mistakes That Sabotage Asthma Control

Allergic asthma is a type of asthma where symptoms are triggered by contact with allergens, and it is the most common type of asthma. Watch Chandler D. Patton, MD, discuss the symptoms and management of allergic asthma in this video.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

What Is Allergic Asthma?

Asthma comes in a variety of different types. Watch pulmonologist Harish Murthy, MD, discuss how allergies, infections, cigarette smoking, exercise and acid reflux can all cause asthma.

Medically reviewed in December 2020.

What Are the Different Types of Asthma?

Genetics and the environment are two causes of asthma, says <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/dr-clifford-bassett">Clifford Bassett, MD</a>. In this WisePatient video, he discusses those and other culprits.

Medically reviewed in April 2018.

What Causes Asthma?

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are both common conditions. While exact numbers are hard to pin down, it is estimated that 25 million adults and children in the United States have allergic rhinitis and another 25 million have asthma.

While they are different conditions, there is overlap. Many people who are diagnosed with <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-asthma">asthma</a> also have allergic rhinitis, and the most common type of asthma is allergic asthma, where allergens act as triggers for asthma symptoms.

What are allergies? 
An allergy is an immune system reaction to a harmless substance. Normally, the immune system reacts to get rid of germs and heal injuries. You sneeze to rid your nasal passages of germs. Your eyes water to keep harmful particles out. A sprained ankle swells as the area is flooded with fluid and white blood cells. All of these things are appropriate immune responses.

With an allergy, your immune system reacts to things that normally do not trigger any kind of immune response. People are allergic to all sorts of things, including foods, bites and stings from insects, materials and medications. Anything that causes an allergic response is called an allergen.

Allergic rhinitis is inflammation of the nasal membranes that results from allergic reactions. Its symptoms are what we typically call &ldquo;allergies,&rdquo; and include nasal congestion, sneezing and irritated eyes, as well as a sore or scratchy throat, coughing, hives and headaches. Common allergens for allergic rhinitis include pollen, mold spores, pet dander and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/allergy/article/eliminate-dust-mites-stop-sneezing">dust mites</a>. You may also hear allergic rhinitis referred to as seasonal allergies, hay fever or indoor and outdoor allergies.

What is asthma? 
Asthma is a chronic condition in which the lungs and the airways&mdash;the tubes that carry air to and from the lungs&mdash;become inflamed. This inflammation causes the airways to spasm, and also causes an excess amount of mucus that blocks the airways. This makes it difficult to breathe normally.

Wheezing, coughing, tightness in the chest and feeling out of breath or shortness of breath are all symptoms of asthma. These symptoms can range from mild to severe. An asthma attack (also called an exacerbation or a flare-up) occurs when asthma symptoms become severe.

Asthma can be triggered by a variety of things&mdash;physical exercise, cold air, tobacco smoke and stress can all trigger asthma symptoms. Many people have more than one asthma trigger.

How are asthma and allergies connected? 
The most common type of asthma is <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/how-manage-allergic-asthma">allergic asthma</a>; approximately 60 percent of people who are diagnosed with asthma have allergic asthma. With allergic asthma, allergens trigger asthma symptoms. This includes skin and food allergens as well as allergens like pollen, pet dander, mold and dust mites.

Though they are different conditions, both allergic rhinitis and asthma are inflammatory disorders, and both involve similar immune responses in the body. It is common for people diagnosed with asthma to also have allergic rhinitis, and allergic rhinitis is a risk factor for developing asthma.

If you have symptoms of allergies, asthma or allergic asthma, or have been diagnosed with any of these conditions, it&#39;s important to work with your healthcare provider to get an accurate diagnosis and come up with a treatment plan to address your symptoms.

It is also important to understand that conditions like these can change over time and increase your risk for things like sinus infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. See your healthcare provider anytime you start to experience new symptoms, your symptoms worsen or your symptoms are not responding to treatment.

Medically reviewed in July 2018.

Is It Asthma, Allergies or Both?

Did you know half of all asthma cases are related to allergies? Learn more from Robin Miller, MD, in this video.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

The Link Between Allergies and Asthma

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition where breathing becomes difficult due to a diminished function of the lungs and airways. It occurs in two main forms: emphysema and chronic bronchitis. With emphysema, the elastic tissue that aids exhaling air, as well as the walls between the tiny air sacs in the lungs, become damaged and no longer function properly. With chronic bronchitis, the walls of the bronchial tubes become inflamed and thickened, and produce excess mucus. Most people with COPD have a combination of these two conditions.

Tobacco smoking is the leading risk factor for COPD, and the majority of COPD cases are attributable to cigarette smoking. However, there are other risk factors, including genetics and exposure to <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/health-society/article/pollution-kills-millions-each-year-finds-study">pollution</a>, fumes and chemicals, and there are people with COPD who have never smoked. Some research also suggests that excess bodyweight and a lack of physical activity are associated with COPD symptoms.

The research looked at self-reported data taken from more than 113,000 participants in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study, which began in 1995. While none of the participants reported COPD-like symptoms at the start of the study, 3,648 participants reported having COPD symptoms in the follow-up years between 1996 and 2006. The researchers discovered that obese people&mdash;as measured by <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/wellness-healthy-living/article/can-you-be-overweight-and-healthy">body-mass index (BMI)</a>&mdash;accounted for a greater percentage of those who reported COPD symptoms than did slimmer people.

How could COPD, a disease of the lungs, be associated with being overweight or obese? Carrying excess weight can impact breathing and exacerbate the symptoms of respiratory conditions, including COPD. Obesity can also contribute to inflammation, according to Gundula Behrens, PhD, a researcher in the department of epidemiology and preventive medicine at the University of Regensburg in Germany and co-author of the study. Cells in the immune system secrete proteins called cytokines, and one type of cytokines, known as pro-inflammatory cytokines, cause an inflammatory response in the body.

&quot;The fat tissue that is most active in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines is visceral fat, which is found in the <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/obesity-overweight-condition/article/bad-body-fat-omentum-definition-causes-prevention">abdomen</a>,&quot; Behrens says. &quot;Those pro-inflammatory cytokines circulate through the body, and increased levels of those cytokines may stimulate COPD-related processes in the lung.&quot;

If you have been diagnosed with COPD, there are a number of steps you can take to slow the progression of the disease. At the top of this list is to quit smoking (if you smoke, and you haven&rsquo;t already quit). Exercising and adopting a healthy diet can also help. Speak with your healthcare provider about pulmonary rehabilitation&mdash;a treatment program that utilizes exercise, counseling, nutrition and breathing techniques to help people with respiratory illnesses improve lung function, manage symptoms and improve quality of life.

How Being Overweight Affects COPD

If you feel short of breath while exercising, or you&rsquo;re prone to fits of coughing, you may be wondering if asthma or COPD could be to blame. Asthma and <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/copd/article/what-you-need-know-copd">chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)</a> are often confused or lumped together because they share some of the same symptoms.

&ldquo;Both conditions cause wheezing and shortness of breath,&rdquo; says <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/doctor/dr-nicholas-roy">Nicholas Roy, DO</a>, a pulmonary, internal medicine and critical care specialist from Lourdes Health System in Camden, New Jersey. &ldquo;But not everyone who wheezes has asthma, nor do they necessarily have COPD&mdash;it takes a little more investigating to figure out which condition it is.&rdquo;

Here are some key similarities between the two conditions and how to tell them apart.

What are asthma and COPD? 
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that often appears during childhood. It may be reversed over time, but many people have <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-asthma">asthma</a> for life. &ldquo;It causes airway tightening, inflammation and constriction in the lungs. The small airways actually narrow, leading to shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing,&rdquo; says Dr. Roy.

These symptoms become especially severe during asthma attacks. Asthma attacks may be brought on by a number of <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-causes/causes-of-asthma">triggers</a> such as allergies, exercise, irritating fragrances and lung infections. Attacks can be life threatening, but they&rsquo;re usually treatable at home with rescue inhalers like albuterol.

&ldquo;COPD is a group of chronic lung diseases, which are almost always caused by&nbsp;smoking and don&rsquo;t typically appear until after age 40. These diseases include chronic bronchitis and emphysema,&rdquo; says Roy.

<ul>
	<li>Chronic bronchitis is an ongoing cough, which produces large amounts of mucous.</li>
	<li>Emphysema involves the damage and scarring of tiny air sacs in your lungs, called alveoli. When alveoli are destroyed, it&rsquo;s harder for your lungs to take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide.</li>
</ul>

There are treatments for COPD, but there&rsquo;s no known cure. Many of the same triggers that cause asthma attacks could also lead to COPD exacerbations, or symptom flare-ups. Exacerbations can be serious and require a hospital stay; with each flare, COPD tends to become a little worse.

Are COPD and asthma diagnosed the same way? 
Some of the same tests are used to diagnose both asthma and COPD. For example, your lung specialist will ask about your symptoms, listen to your heart and lungs and have you to complete a pulmonary function test (PFT).

A PFT involves taking a deep breath, and then exhaling as long and hard as you can into a special tube. The tube is attached to a computer, which measures your lung strength and capacity, or the amount of air you&rsquo;re able to exhale. If you don&rsquo;t score well on your PFT, your doctor will give you an inhaled medication to help open up your airways, and then let you redo the test. People with asthma typically score better after taking the medication, while those with COPD show little or no improvement.

Your lung specialist may also order blood tests, as well as a chest X-ray to determine if another condition like pneumonia could be causing your symptoms.

Are both conditions preventable? 
COPD is largely preventable since smoking causes 80 percent of cases. You can&rsquo;t prevent asthma, but you can limit the number of attacks you experience by:

<ul>
	<li>Avoiding triggers</li>
	<li>Getting your annual flu shot</li>
	<li>Taking your daily, or maintenance inhalers</li>
</ul>

Smoking can&rsquo;t cause asthma, but it can trigger attacks, make it harder to fight lung infections and increase your risk of developing COPD. &ldquo;People with asthma are actually more likely to damage their lungs with cigarette smoke,&rdquo; says Roy. &ldquo;It puts them a slightly higher risk for COPD than the average person.&rdquo;

Can asthma cause COPD? 
Asthma doesn&rsquo;t cause COPD. However, people with severe asthma whose symptoms don&rsquo;t improve with treatment are considered to have a type of COPD. People with poorly controlled asthma as children are more prone to this condition as adults.

How asthma and COPD are treated 
Quitting smoking is the number one treatment for COPD and a key part of controlling asthma symptoms. For help quitting tobacco:

<ul>
	<li>Call the national Smokefree Hotline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800- 784-8669)</li>
	<li>Visit Sharecare&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/quit-smoking">quit smoking page</a> for tips and support</li>
	<li>Reach out to an <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/find-a-doctor/specialty/addiction-medicine">addiction specialist</a> for personalized help</li>
</ul>

Asthma and COPD also share some&mdash;but not all&mdash;medications. &ldquo;There&#39;s often a crossover between inhaler therapies for both conditions,&rdquo; explains Roy. &ldquo;Inhalers include bronchodilators, or drugs that help open up the airways to allow better air flow in and out. Both conditions may also require steroid inhalers, although people with asthma tend to respond a little better to steroid treatments. This is a major reason why that there&#39;s often confusion between the two conditions.&rdquo;

Visit your lung specialist at least once a year to determine which medications are right for you and to update your med list as symptoms change. Individuals with both asthma and COPD often need a combination of inhalers, which may vary from season-to-season or depending on how advanced your condition is. Use Sharecare&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/find-a-doctor/specialty/pulmonary-disease">find a doctor tool</a> to make an appointment with a lung doctor near you.

Medically reviewed in April 2018.

How to Tell if It's Asthma or COPD

Some of the clues are a little surprising, but if you&nbsp;know what to look for, you&#39;ll be better prepared for your next attack

5 Weird Warnings of an Asthma Attack

Watch Keren Bakal, MD, from Summit Medical Group discuss why having an asthma action plan is an essential part of asthma management, plus her recommendations for her patients.

Taking Control of Your Asthma

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory illness that makes it difficult for a person to breathe. COPD is actually an umbrella term for several chronic respiratory illnesses. The two major forms of COPD are chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and people who have COPD may have either of these illnesses or a combination of both.

While <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/smoking-treatment/slideshow/guide-nicotine-replacement-therapy">cigarette smoking</a> is the primary risk factor for COPD, it is not the only risk factor, and as many as 20 percent of people who have COPD are nonsmokers. Aside from smoking, there are a number of other factors that can put a person at risk for COPD.

Environmental risk factors 
Environmental risk factors are elements of your <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/wellness-healthy-living/article/pollution-kills-millions-each-year-finds-study">surroundings</a> that can contribute to your risk of a disease or medical condition. Some environmental risk factors for COPD include:

<ul>
	<li>Secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke can be a risk factor, even if you&rsquo;re not the one who is smoking. Living in a home where people smoke, frequenting places that people smoke or working in a place where people smoke also exposes your body to the harmful effects of smoking.</li>
	<li>Coal or wood smoke. An estimated 65 million people worldwide are afflicted by COPD, including many people in parts of the world where wood or coal fires are used for cooking and heating. Long-term exposure to this type of smoke can contribute to COPD.</li>
	<li>Dust, chemicals, fumes and particulates. Cement dust, diesel exhaust, asbestos, fumes from welding/cutting gasses, silica, coal dust, spray paint, industrial chemicals (such as those used in the production of rubber, textiles and plastics) and other agents that can be found in many work environments have been associated with COPD.</li>
</ul>

Childhood risk factors 
A person&rsquo;s medical history can also contribute to the development of COPD. Research has shown that people who have a history of respiratory illness and infection during childhood&mdash;such as <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-and-children/article/what-do-child-has-asthma">asthma</a>, pneumonia and bronchitis&mdash;are at an increased risk of developing COPD later in life. Children or parents who smoke are also at a greater risk of developing COPD.

Genetic risk factors 
Genetics are another risk factor for COPD, and research supports the idea that COPD runs in families. One inherited genetic disorder in particular&mdash;alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency (A1AD)&mdash;has been identified as a significant risk factor for COPD. However, this disorder is rare, and only accounts for 1 to 2 percent of cases of COPD.

Why does A1AD cause COPD? The disorder prevents the body from using the alpha 1-antitrypsin protein, which protects the lungs from inflammation and infection. A1AD results in a breakdown of protein in lung tissue, and is also a risk factor for liver disease. Blood work can help identify A1AD by looking at the levels of alpha 1-antitrypsin protein in the blood or looking for alpha 1-antitrypsin proteins that are abnormal in shape.

When Non-Smokers Get COPD

Is this the reason you&#39;re wheezing?

6 Surprising Asthma Triggers

Asthma occurs when certain cells of the body&#39;s immune system misidentify substances as very harmful and overreact to them, causing the bronchial tubes in the lungs to become inflamed and narrowed. What causes asthma&mdash;and why it occurs in some people and not others&mdash;has long baffled medical experts. Still, a growing number of risk factors and asthma triggers have been identified, helping doctors to diagnose and treat people affected by the disease.

How do people get asthma? 
Here are 10 risk factors to assess your likelihood of developing asthma.

1. You&#39;re overweight. 
You know obesity can increase your risk for arthritis, diabetes, stroke, and other health conditions, but did you know you can add asthma to that list as well? It&#39;s true (although it&#39;s not entirely clear why). It could be that excess weight presses on the lungs, triggering responses typical of asthma. It might also be that when someone is overweight, all their organs have to work harder, including their lungs.

2. You have skin allergies. 
Although skin allergies may not be what causes asthma, studies show that there is a correlation between skin allergies and asthma. In fact, children who have eczema and hay fever are nine times more likely to develop asthma as adults, and can later have asthma more severe and persistent.

3. You have nasal allergies. 
People who suffer from nasal allergies are likely to develop asthma. It makes sense. The nose and lower airways are part of the same respiratory system, and they can react the same way as the lungs do to allergens, irritants, and viruses.

4. You have eye allergies. 
Like the mucus membranes in your nose and airways, the membranes in your eyes can be sensitive to allergens. &quot;Once you have one allergy -- skin, food, nose, eyes -- you&#39;re at greater risk for developing other allergies and, in this case, asthma,&quot; says Neil L. Kao, MD, of the Allergic Disease and Asthma Center in Greenville and Spartansburg, S.C., and a fellow in the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAI).

5. Your mom or dad has asthma. 
Your chances of developing asthma increase significantly when asthma runs in your family. Right now, there&#39;s nothing to be done about genetic risk, but doctors are hard at work to identify which genes are the culprits.

6. You&#39;re a boy. 
&quot;Asthma occurs at all ages of life,&quot; Kao says. However, the likelihood of having it does depends on age and gender. Before puberty, asthma is more common in males.

7. You&#39;re a young woman. 
After adolescence, asthma is more prevalent in women than in men. But the battle of the sexes evens out with time. &quot;After about 50ish, occurrence is about even in men and women,&quot; Kao says. Still, women tend to have more severe symptoms than men, and they&#39;re at greater risk for deadly asthma (possibly because of monthly hormonal fluctuations).&nbsp;

8. You&#39;re pregnant. 
Weight gain is a natural and healthy part of pregnancy, but it can mean hard work for your lungs: the baby pressing on the diaphragm, the extra pounds the lungs must support, and the growing fetus for which the lungs must now also breathe, according to Kao.

9. You have hyperactive airways. 
Some children have hyperactive airways. Their bronchial airways just over-respond to various stimuli by becoming inflamed and narrow. It&#39;s a similar condition to asthma, and having hyperactive airways puts people at greater risk for developing asthma as adults.

10. You&#39;re no stranger to tobacco smoke. 
Children who grow up around smokers are more likely to develop asthma than kids whose parents don&#39;t smoke. Be it first- or second-hand, cigarette smoke can stimulate the production of mucus in the lungs -- another part of the asthma response that makes it difficult to breath. In fact, any kind of smoke can cause problems. &quot;It doesn&#39;t matter whether it&#39;s smoke from a cigarette or a pipe or even a burning building,&quot; Kao says. &quot;Smoke is made up of chemicals and particulate matter that can irritate your lungs.&quot;

Multiplication matters 
The more risk factors you have, the more likely you are to develop asthma. If you have any of these risk factors and experience symptoms like coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath, or excess mucus or phlegm, talk to your doctor. Even if you don&#39;t have asthma symptoms, your doctor may be able to suggest strategies for lowering your risk of an asthma attack.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

Find Out What Causes Asthma

Eosinophilic asthma is a type of asthma that is often severe. Join Dr. Oz for an exploration of what makes e-asthma different from other forms of this respiratory disease, and the challenges of treating e-asthma.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

A Virtual Look at Severe Asthma

COPD, or <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/copd">chronic obstructive pulmonary disease</a> is a common, but preventable condition, with over 80 percent of cases linked to smoking.

COPD involves the tightening and chronic inflammation of your airways, along with the damage of tiny air sacs in your lungs, called alveoli. The symptoms of COPD are manageable, although they typically <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/copd/is-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-serious">get worse over time</a>. There&rsquo;s no known cure for the disease.

Technically, COPD includes these two medical conditions and most people with the disease have both of them:

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/chronic-bronchitis">Chronic bronchitis</a>: the inflammation, thickening and tightening of your airways, which often comes with excessive mucus production and</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/emphysema">Emphysema</a>: the destruction and scarring of your lung&rsquo;s air sacs, which makes it harder for your lungs to take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide</li>
</ul>

People with asthma are sometimes diagnosed with COPD as well if their case is especially severe and their airway tightness doesn&rsquo;t improve with asthma treatments.

How is COPD diagnosed? 
If your doctor <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/copd/what-increases-risk-for-copd" style="line-height: 1.6em;">suspects that you have COPD</a>, they&rsquo;ll ask you to complete a pulmonary function test, or a PFT. A PFT involves taking a long, deep breath and then blowing out into a tube with as much force as you can manage.

The tube will be connected to a machine that measures lung strength. If the test reveals that your lungs could be weak or damaged, your doctor will give you an inhaled medication to open up your airways. Then, he or she will let you repeat the test to see if your results improve.

People with asthma tend to score better after taking the medication, while those with COPD typically experience just a slight improvement.&nbsp;

Your doctor might also order:

<ul>
	<li>A chest x-ray: an x-ray is used to see if another condition like heart failure or pneumonia is causing your symptoms instead of COPD</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/diagnostic-procedures/what-arterial-blood-gas-analysis">An arterial blood gas</a>: this blood test is drawn from the artery in your wrist and measures your &ldquo;blood gases,&rdquo; which include oxygen and carbon dioxide</li>
	<li>An exercise test: you may be asked to perform an exercise routine like walking or biking for a certain amount of time while your doctor monitors your breathing difficulty, heart rate and oxygen level&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Your doctor will also perform a physical assessment and ask you if troubling symptoms like shortness of breath have been interfering with your ability to perform everyday activities.

Symptoms of COPD 
Diagnostic tests like a PFT can pick up on COPD before you start feeling symptoms. In fact, it&rsquo;s common to experience no symptoms at all with early-stage COPD. However, as the condition worsens, you may develop:

<ul>
	<li>Coughing and spitting up lots of phlegm</li>
	<li><a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/breathing-disorders-signs-symptoms/what-is-wheezing-sound">Wheezing</a></li>
	<li>Shortness of breath</li>
	<li>Fatigue, or exhaustion</li>
	<li>Frequent respiratory infections</li>
</ul>

If you&rsquo;re a smoker, your symptoms will likely worsen faster if you continue to smoke than if you quit.

What causes COPD? 
Smoking is the top cause of COPD. Quitting smoking can lower your risk of developing the disease or, if you already have COPD, can help manage your symptoms.&nbsp;

In general, long-term exposure to air that&rsquo;s contaminated with dirt or chemicals can lead to COPD.&nbsp; That can include second-hand smoke, industrial chemicals that you inhale on-the-job or concentrated air pollution in your town.

In about two to three percent of cases, COPD is caused by a condition called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Even though this genetic deficiency is rare, everyone who&rsquo;s diagnosed with COPD should get tested because it may put you at risk for other health problems like <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/alpha-antitrypsin-deficiency">liver damage</a>.&nbsp;

COPD treatments 
If you&rsquo;re a smoker who&rsquo;s diagnosed with COPD, the first step of your treatment plan is to quit tobacco. There are many methods to choose from when quitting smoking, including medications, nicotine replacement and talk therapy. If you&rsquo;ve tried quitting in the past without success, don&rsquo;t give up-- ask your doctor about other methods that could work for you.&nbsp;

Additionally, your doctor will prescribe inhaled medications such as bronchodilators, or drugs that help open up your lungs, to ease your COPD symptoms and slow the progress of the disease.

As COPD progresses, you may need to start using <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/respiratory-therapy/what-is-oxygen-therapy">portable oxygen</a>. Oxygen is stored in a tank, travels through a thin tube and passes into your lungs through prongs that sit in your nostrils.

Some people might also need surgery like a lung transplant or a partial lung removal if their symptoms stop responding to medications and oxygen.

Resources for those living with COPD 
If you have COPD, there are people and resources available to help you manage your diagnosis:

<ul>
	<li>The <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/group/copd-foundation">COPD Foundation</a> offers support groups and has an information line that can be reached at 1-866-316-COPD (2673).</li>
	<li>The AskMD app offers a personalized consultation for living well with COPD.</li>
	<li>Sharecare&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/quit-smoking">Quit Smoking page</a> includes advice on making a quit plan, tips for quitting permanently and can even put you in touch with a doctor who specializes in <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/find-a-doctor/specialty/addiction-medicine">a</a><a href="https://www.sharecare.com/find-a-doctor/specialty/addiction-medicine">ddiction medicine</a>.</li>
</ul>

With the proper support, planning and lifestyle changes, it&rsquo;s possible to stay active and live well with COPD.

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

What You Need to Know About COPD

Asthma is a common respiratory condition that affects over 26 million adults and children in the United States. Here&#39;s a look at how the respiratory system works and how asthma impacts the respiratory system.

Upper respiratory tract 
The main parts of the upper respiratory system include the nose, mouth, throat and voice box. When you breathe in through your nose, the nasal cavity warms the air to keep it from irritating your sensitive airways. Cilia and mucus in the nasal passages trap germs and allergens. Once air is warmed and purified, it travels from your nose down to your throat and voice box and into the lower portion of your respiratory system.

Lower respiratory tract 
The lower respiratory tract is made up of the windpipe and lungs, including the bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli. The air moves down through your windpipe and into the bronchi. Airways that branch off into the lungs have cartilage embedded in their walls to keep the bronchi open. Inside the lungs, these airways then move into smaller passages called bronchioles. These are susceptible to swelling and constriction because there is no cartilage to hold them open.

The bronchioles end in air sacs called alveoli. These sacs change the carbon dioxide in your blood into oxygen, which then goes to your heart and through the rest of your body. The remaining carbon dioxide is removed when you breathe out. Your diaphragm, located beneath your lungs, helps facilitate the process by pumping air in and out of the lungs.

Asthma and the respiratory system 
When <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/video-different-types-asthma">asthma</a> kicks in, this chronic condition can cause swelling in the lining of the bronchial tubes. Excess mucus can form and clog the air passages. The smooth muscle that surrounds your airways can also tighten or go into spasms.

Avoiding the impact of asthma 
These simple steps can help you keep your respiratory system healthy:

<ul>
	<li>Avoid triggers. Triggers can include air pollution, illness, indoor and outdoor <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/video-how-common-allergic-asthma">allergens</a>, cigarette smoke, fumes, respiratory illnesses, cold air and physical activity.</li>
	<li>Use medications as directed. Your fast-acting relief inhaler is essential to reverse the tightening and spasms that occurs with an asthma flare, but in order to prevent <a href="https://www.sharecare.com/health/asthma-respiratory-problems/article/video-what-is-asthma-attack">asthma attacks</a> from occurring, you must be using your long-acting control medicines as directed.</li>
	<li>Monitor your symptoms. Pay attention to how you&#39;re feeling, and use a peak flow meter (a plastic tube that measures your breathing capacity) to get an idea of how well your lungs are functioning.</li>
	<li>Reduce stress. Practice deep breathing exercises such as yoga or meditation and engage in regular cardiovascular exercise to increase your lung capacity.</li>
</ul>

Medically reviewed in May 2018.

Your Respiratory System and Asthma

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Medically reviewed in May 2018.

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