Asthma and pneumonia are two different diseases or conditions that affect the same organ(lungs). Asthma is a lung disease in which a person has difficulty breathing and their lungs are not working properly. Pneumonia is a short-term infection or lung infection that causes the air sacs to fill with fluid or pus. While comparing asthma vs pneumonia, both have different causes and treatments, but they share common symptoms and affect the same organ, the lungs.
Due to having the same causes and symptoms, it is sometimes difficult to identify pneumonia in people with asthma. So here we will explain all the factors of asthma versus pneumonia, including symptoms, causes, treatments, and risk factors.
What is Asthma?
Asthma is a type of chronic disease that can affect your healthy lungs and make it hard to work properly. It happens when the airways of your lungs become narrowed and swollen due to environmental exposure or genetics. The airways work to bring in and out air from your lungs, and they look like a tube.
It can happen from smoking, dust, mold, and weather changes. In medical research, there is no proper cure for asthma treatment, but you can control and manage it with some medication procedures, or lifestyle changes. You can identify symptoms like coughing, chest pain, and shortness of breath.
What is Pneumonia?
Pneumonia is a short-term infection in which one or both lungs do not work properly. This is caused by a viral infection, cold weather, or bacterial infection. It has symptoms like cough, fever, chills, and difficulty breathing. When you go to diagnose pneumonia, your healthcare provider checks your medical history and performs a physical test. Also, want to do some tests for diagnosis, such as a chest X-ray. This tests result help to identify what kind of pneumonia you have. Some pneumonias can be prevented by a vaccine.
Asthma vs Pneumonia: Comparison
| Feature | Asthma | Pneumonia |
| Defination | Pain in the chest, midnight coughing, and wheezing | Short-term infection that affects both lungs |
| Cause | Dust, smoke, weather changes, and genetic reasons | By a weak immune system, bacterial problems, viral infection, or fungal infection |
| Symptoms | Based on symptoms assessment, medical history, and lung function test | Fever, fast breathing, and cough with mucus |
| Diagnosis | On chest x-ray, blood test, and physical test | Used different medications to treat, like antibiotics, antifungal, and antiviral medicines |
| Treatment | Used inhaler, steroids, and avoided triggers | Use a proper inhaler, make healthy plan, and avoid crowded places and dust, smoke |
| Prevention | Use a proper inhaler, make a healthy plan, and avoid crowded places and dust, smoke | Live in good hygiene, take vaccines, and avoid triggers |
Causes of Asthma and Pneumonia
Here we distinguish the causes of asthma vs pneumonia.
Causes of Asthma
- Smoke, dust, and pet hair can trigger asthma.
- Genetic reasons can also cause asthma.
- Weather changes and cold air can trigger asthma.
- In winter, or cold air, exercising can also trigger your asthma.
- Some people take some medicine like aspirin, which can also trigger asthma.
Causes of Pneumonia
- Due to illness or old age, having a weak immune system can lead to pneumonia.
- Sometimes smoking also damages your lungs, which can make an infection easier.
- A chronic lung disease like COPD or asthma can trigger pneumonia.
- Inhaling food or drink in the wrong way and going directly into the lungs by accident can affect the lungs or cause an infection.
- Living in a crowded place where germs are active in people, which can cause infection or pneumonia.
Symptoms of Asthma and Pneumonia
Here we describe the symptoms of asthma and pneumonia:
Symptoms of Asthma
- Early morning and night coughing
- Sometimes breathe shortness
- Also, wheezing is a common sign of asthma, mostly found in children when exhaling.
- If you have asthma, then have a mild pain in your chest and feel tightness.
- People have trouble breathing during exercise or when it’s cold outside.
Symptoms of Pneumonia
- Fever and Shivering
- Chest pain(when coughing and breathing deeply)
- Shortness of breath is found in both asthma and pneumonia.
- Lack of strength and tiredness.
- Heartbeat is fast, and rapid breathing.
Treatments of Asthma and Pneumonia
Asthma doesn’t have a cure, but you can only control and manage it with some medication and lifestyle changes. It is a long-term disease that directly settles in your lungs and makes it hard to breathe. Managing it usually involves a combination of inhalers, steroids, and a clear health plan.
The right medication/treatment only depends on your age, symptoms, causes, and subtype of asthma you have. After careful understanding of your situation, your doctor will prescribe some tests and give treatments also share tips for living well with the condition.
Treatments of Asthma
Here are some medications and treatments for asthma:
Inhalers
Inhalers are a device that provides a fast relief solution during asthma attacks. It helps to deliver medication immediately into the lungs to manage asthma. These medications are cleaning the airways and also reduce swelling and extra mucus.
Steroids
Steroids are usually used in chronic asthma that can to help reduce breathing problems and inflammation in the airways. We have two types of steroids:
- Inhaled Steroids: Inhaled steroids have fewer side effects, and they directly target the lungs.
- Oral Steroids: Oral steroids are used for short periods for asthma problems to flare-ups because they have more side effects when it is used in the long term.
Management Tips
- Avoiding smoking
- If you have any breathing problems, immediately consult with doctor.
- Always do medication and stay consistent.
- Effectively take a proper healthy diet.
- Follow your asthma plan and use your inhaler correctly.
Treatments of Pneumonia
Pneumonia is a type of infection that directly affects people both lungs. It can be caused by bacterial and viral infections. This disease is treated on the basis of their condition and symptoms. Most of the people who have an early stage of pneumonia are prescribed medicine at home and recover easily. But those people have a serious condition that can be diagnosed by a highly qualified doctor.
Sometimes the disease can not be identified because pneumonia and asthma have similar symptoms. In these cases, the doctor is focused on managing symptoms and making sure that the condition does not get worse. Here are some medications and treatments for pneumonia:
Anti-biotics
Antibiotics are used to kill and stop the bacterial infection of the lungs. Some antibiotics include azithromycin, amoxicillin, or ceftriaxone. This medicine is typically taken for 7-14 days, depending on the infection or doctor’s consultation.
Anti-fungal medications
It is that type of drug that is used to treat fungal infections. Antifungal medicines target the fungal cells and stop the growth of the fungus. This is less common but can occur in people who have a weakened immune system. Some antifungal medicines are: fluconazole or amphotericin B.
Anti-viral medications
This medication is used to treat viral infections like the flu or COVID-19. It targets the virus and slows down its ability to spread or replicate in the body. Oseltamivir and remdesivir are antiviral medicines that reduce viral infections and help with faster recovery.
Oxygen therapy
This therapy is used in that type of pneumonia where oxygen levels drop too low. It increases the oxygen level in the blood to improve the immune system. Oxygen therapy can be done through a mask or nasal tubes to reduce breathing problems.
Prevention Tips: Asthma vs Pneumonia
Here we discuss some prevention tips to avoid asthma and Pneumonia:
Asthma Prevention Tips
- Avoid things like smoke, dust, and intense aromas.
- Clean your home regularly to reduce dust and mold.
- Wear a mask at all times in crowded places and keep away from anyone infected.
- Exercise regularly, but make sure to warm up your body before physical activity.
- Always keep an inhaler nearby and use it correctly.
Pneumonia Prevention Tips
- Always wash your hands after doing any activity.
- Take always vaccine against the flu and pneumonia to stay safe from infection.
- Always take a healthy meal and get enough rest to boost your immune system.
- Don’t avoid any symptoms of pneumonia to diagnose it early.
- Avoid smoking and stay away from sick people.
Conclusion
In this blog, we discussed all the factors related to asthma and pneumonia. Asthma and pneumonia share similar symptoms and causes, which affect the lungs. Asthma needs long-term treatment because it does not have a proper cure. Pneumonia needs quick relief treatment because its infection increases day by day. Asthma vs pneumonia both need early diagnosis and the right treatment, which can help to prevent major problems from both conditions.