Asthma and emphysema are both lung diseases, but they are different in types, symptoms, and treatment. Airway inflammation is indicated by asthma, while a form of COPD is indicated by emphysema, marked by the destruction of alveoli in the lungs. This blog shares the comparison between asthma vs emphysema.
It may be difficult to say that asthma and emphysema are different from each other, because both affect the lungs. But here on the blog, we share the differences, including types, symptoms, causes, and treatment.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a long-term chronic disease that directly affects the lungs. All ages of people are triggered by it, with it mostly being found in children due to their airways being very sensitive. This narrowing makes it difficult for air to be flowed in and out of the lungs and symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness are caused.
What is Emphysema?
Emphysema is a type of COPD, which stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. COPD is a group of lung diseases that make it difficult to breathe and get worse as time goes on. Emphysema is a long-term condition that affects the lungs and causes someone to feel out of breath or have trouble breathing.
The walls of the tiny air sacs in the lungs are harmed by this condition, which has a thin layer called alveoli. When air is breathed in, these air sacs are expanded and filled with air, like small balloons. Whenever you done a process of breathe exhale, the air sacs expand and pushed out of the lungs.
Stages of Emphysema
Mostly, emphysema is caused by COPD, but this is a myth because not everyone who has emphysema also has COPD. The stages are given below:
- Stage 1: The 1st stage refers to the mild stage. Your lung operates at least 80%.
- Stage 2: It refers to the moderate stage. Your lung operates between 50%-79%.
- Stage 3: It refers to the severe stage. Your lung operates between 30%-49%.
- Stage 4: It refers to the very severe stage. Your lung operates at less than 30%.
Difference between Asthma vs Emphysema
The table below shows the comparison between asthma vs emphysema:
| Asthma | Emphysema |
| Asthma is a long-term term chronic disease that directly affects the lungs. | Emphysema is a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged. |
| Asthma may occur before 20 years. | Emphysema may occur after 40 years. |
| It includes a dry cough. | It includes a productive cough. |
| It contains a lower neutrophil level. | It contains a higher neutrophil level. |
| Symptoms include cough, wheezing, less breathing, and chest tightness. | Symptoms include cough with mucus, shortness of breath. |
Types: Emphysema vs Asthma
Types of Emphysema
There are three different types of emphysema, which include centrilobular, panlobular, and paraseptal. The part of the lungs’ alveoli that is damaged shows which kind of emphysema is present.
- Centrilobular emphysema: It is begun in the middle of the lung and is moved outward, leading to the alveoli being gotten bigger and then being broken down or disappearing. It is usually caused by smoking.
- Panlobular emphysema: This emphysema damages the entire parts of the lung. It is found most commonly in individuals with a genetic predisposition(a developed disease in childhood from the genes of their parents).
- Paraseptal emphysema: Paraseptal emphysema is a very uncommon condition that mainly affects the air sacs located close to the lung’s lining. It affects the outer part of the lung lobules(mostly found in the upper region of the lungs).
Types of Asthma
There are different types of asthma, which are allergic asthma, cough-variant asthma, exercise-induced asthma, and occupational asthma(also called job-related or work-related asthma).
Allergic Asthma
Allergic or allergic-induced asthma is mostly triggered by allergens, which are dust mites, pets, and pollen. Most people have asthma with symptoms of allergy(almost 4 out of 5). When any symptoms of asthma are seen, a blood test needs to be done first to rule out an allergy. This will help you understand what type of asthma.
Cough-Variant Asthma
It refers to that type of asthma in which cough is the main symptom. It causes recurring dry cough, but it gets better with asthma treatment, like inhalers for better relief. These inhalers work quickly and provide quick relief. Mainly, it includes a dry cough, but some people are suffering from wet cough, or some people are suffering from a cough with mucus.
Exercise-Induced Asthma
Exercise-induced asthma refers to that type of asthma that happens when your airways get smaller or lighter during any physical activity, which triggers asthma symptoms. This asthma includes wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Sometimes symptoms show worse, whether it’s cold air and dry or whether pollen counts are high does not matter. EIA is also called exercise-induced bronchoconstriction(EIB) or support-induced asthma.
Occupational Asthma
Occupational asthma refers to asthma when you are working at a place and there is a substance that irritates your airways to swell. It can cause shortness of breathing, chest tightness, it usually gets better if you go far away from work for a while. Occupational asthma, also famous with the name as job-related asthma or work-related asthma.
Symptoms & Causes: Asthma vs Emphysema
Check out the causes and symptoms of both:
Symptoms & Causes of Asthma
The symptoms & causes of asthma include:
Symptoms of Asthma
- Problem in breathing
- Cough
- Chest tightness
- Pain
- Wheezing
If you are feeling these symptoms in yourself, you need to inform your doctor about them.
Causes of Asthma
There is not enough clear information about what exactly causes asthma, but you could be more likely to develop it if:
- Allergies or asthma are present in your biological parents.
- You live with allergies.
- You experienced a respiratory infection as a child.
- Air pollution(whether it’s indoor or outdoor) occurs in your area.
Symptoms & Causes of Emphysema
The symptoms & causes of emphysema include
Symptoms of Emphysema
Any symptoms of emphysema weren’t noticed by most of the people until 50% or more of the lung tissue had been destroyed. The first symptoms or signs may be tiredness, breathlessness.
Other symptoms include:
- Long-term coughing
- Breathlessness
- Chest tightness
- Trouble sleeping
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Weight loss
- Insomnia
Main Causes of Emphysema
The main cause of emphysema is smoking. Smoking cigarettes damages your lungs and causes your airways to become swollen and irritated. Cigarette smoke damages your cilia. After that, your cilia are disturbed and causing irritation and swollen airways. All of these create causes of breathlessness, or we can say that shortness of breath.
Other causes include:
- Dust
- Cigar smoke
- Vaping
- Chemical fumes
- Genetic factors
- Respiratory infection
Treatments & Medications for Asthma Vs Emphysema
Medications for asthma and emphysema include
Treatments & Medications for Asthma
If you are a patient of asthma, you will get treatment for asthma from a well-qualified or experienced doctor. Some ways to manage asthma include short-term medications, some of strategies to avoid asthma, and control drugs.
- Short-term Medications: These short-term medications help you to prevent symptoms during an asthma attack, called quick relief medications. It includes inhalers to carry with you at all times. Also, this drug contains some other medicines that will help to open your airways.
- Ways to avoid Triggers: If an individual is a patient of asthma, they will avoid smoking and tell others not to smoke.
- Control Medicines: You need to take daily medications at times to help prevent symptoms. These medications work by reducing airway inflammation and preventing blocked or narrow airways.
Treatments & Medications for Emphysema
Some ways to treat & manage emphysema such as bronchodilators, antibiotics, oxygen therapy, and quitting smoking.
- Bronchodilators: These medicines help in relaxing the muscles around your airways. If muscles are relaxed, more air comes in and out of your lungs. Bronchodilators are faster than oral medications.
- Antibiotics: To manage emphysema, antibiotics help to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia or other lung infections.
- Oxygen therapy: It refers to those therapy in which your lungs aren’t getting enough oxygen to your blood, so that oxygen therapy can help.
- Quitting Smoking: Quitting smoking is the best way to treat and manage emphysema. The best step to take to quit smoking is to protect your lungs.
Conclusion
We discussed the comparison between asthma vs emphysema, including types, treatment, symptoms & causes. They both trigger the lungs and cause breathing problems. A doctor will treat your disease, whether it’s asthma or emphysema, according to your health, and manage the symptoms.