????? Is it asthma or COPD ???

[Purple_Popple]

Recently been diagnosed with asthma, I am 46....although no family history of asthma and I have never smoked, can a non-smoker develop COPD ? Always had problems with wheeziness expecially after laughing, 3 months ago had a bad cold and chest infection and my breathing and wheeziness has got worse since September, prescribed a reliver inhaler 3 weeks ago, which worked at first, visit to doc again and prescribed Qvar 100 inhaler, my symptoms are constant coughing and wheezing and bringing up thick white phlegm, im so tired as it is affecting my sleep so much....am booked in for a spirometry later this week. Im just bemused how I have asthma.

[237SJ]

Do you think the reason your asthma has become worse since September is because asthma is aggrevated by the cold and it has been cold since September? I don`t think there has to be a family history of asthma for you to be diagnosed with it. I also don`t think that because you have been diagnosed with asthma means you have COPD. Oh dear, I hope I don`t get told off by any medical professionals on here in the morning. Just my opinion.

[Purple_Popple]

Hmmm, since my bad viral cold I have had constant wheezing, coughing every single day...worse at night...it may be the cold...as we are not used to it being so cold this time of year...never thought of that 237SJ...

[marie26]

Hi,
You may well have late onset Asthma; it is not uncommon. Disturbed sleep due to cough is very telling.The spirometry will be very informative, but reversibility also needs to be performed. This is where (as you may know) your FEV and FEV1 are tested before inhaling a bronchdilator and again afterwards. There needs to be a specific difference in the two readings for a diagnosis of Asthma to be made. Ideally, spirometry should be performed in a lung function lab. It also sounds as though you need a short course of steroids to dampen down your wheeze and reduce the swelling in your large airways, but only after your spirometry. I would suggest also that you should have your sputum checked for eosinophils.
I hope that you feel better soon.

[masma]

I was diagnosed with Asthma in my 40s which has gone on to be Bronchiectasis (?) which I think is COPD. I've always been wheezy, never smoked although I come from a family of smokers. As Sqad said, if you tend to be wheezy the cold weather makes it worse. Wait until you've had all of your tests as you may not have developed Asthma at all (fingers crossed for you)

[anneasquith]

i believe the condition COPD is now used for asthma and smoking related conditions. good luck with your examinations,

[jno]

I got asthma out of nowhere when I was 40 or so - I'd had an op and I suspect the anaesthetic did something to me. It left me very weak for a while, coughing all the time... and then it gradually faded away. I've only had occasional very mild wheezing since, plus one bad week when I had bronchitis a year ago. So you might belucky.

[Sqad]

COPD and Asthma are two different conditions with different treatments.
Non smokers can develop CPOD.
The two conditions CPOD and Asthma can exist together.....but this is uncommon.
Late onset Asthma in non smokers and smokers is extremely common.

My guess is that you have late onset Asthma probably initiated by the URTI as suggested by 237SJ

I agree with marie 26....the diagnosis will be made by Spirometry.

[daffy654]

I was diagnosed with asthma at age 20, I was diagnosed with COPD (emphysema) a few years ago. Mine emphysema is a genetic condition worsened by the fact I have smoked since I was very young.
If your GP surgery is doing the spirometry they need to do a reversibility one as Marie said.... however, when my GP surgery did one for me they said I didn't have COPD. It took a worsening of my condition and me insisting on seeing a specialist (blood tests, x-rays and a CT scan) to confirm what I had suspected for years.

[ethandron]

some information here:
http://www.patient.co...Pulmonary-Disease.htm