If you have trouble breathing, you may be suffering from asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, it may surprise you to learn that as many as 55 percent of adults diagnosed with one of these lung diseases actually qualify for both.
Known as asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS), this disorder typically affects people with asthma who smoke, but it can also impact those who do not use tobacco.
An accurate diagnosis is important to effectively treating lung conditions, and so is having a clear understanding of your options. To help you learn more, here are several frequently asked questions and answers about ACOS:
Q: Is there a difference between asthma and COPD?
Yes. Asthma is a disease that affects your lungs and often begins in childhood. It is prevalent in people with a family history of the disease and includes symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness, which flare up during an asthma attack. At other times, these symptoms tend to fade or become minimal.
COPD, on the other hand, usually occurs later in life. Most people who are diagnosed with COPD are either former or current smokers. Although some symptoms of COPD – including chest tightness and coughing – are similar to those of asthma, other symptoms – such as mucus production – are not and rarely, if ever, fade away.
Q: How am I affected if I am diagnosed with ACOS?
An ACOS diagnosis means you have some symptoms of both conditions. You may often have difficulty breathing and have asthma flare-ups or attacks that are more frequent than if you had COPD alone.
Q: What should I do about ACOS symptoms?
Don’t hesitate to consult with your healthcare provider. They will recommend a spirometry test and/or a chest X-ray. A spirometry test measures how much air you can exhale and at what rate. An X-ray can also provide a clearer picture of the extent and severity of your condition.
Q: Who can treat my respiratory condition?
If you have asthma or COPD alone, your primary healthcare provider can provide treatment. However, if you have ACOS, you should see a pulmonologist, who is a specialist in lung health. That’s because those with ACOS often experience more severe symptoms requiring specialized treatment that includes medicine, pulmonary rehabilitation, influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations, and smoking cessation.
Q: What steps can I take to improve my lung health?
Aside from working closely with a pulmonologist to control the effects of ACOS on your everyday life, you can:
- Quit smoking if you haven’t already stopped
- Stay current on all vaccinations, especially the annual flu shot
- Ask your provider about pulmonary rehabilitation to address consistent breathing problems
- Focus on managing your symptoms by eating a nutritious diet and exercising under your doctor’s guidance
Pulmonology Services in Syracuse, New York
The board-certified pulmonologist at the Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University has the specialized training and expertise to care for patients with a wide range of respiratory conditions, including asthma, COPD, and ACOS. They are also experts in critical care and sleep medicine.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment, please call your pulmonary and critical care and sleep medicine provider directly. You can also contact the Department of Medicine at SUNY: Upstate Medical University directly by emailing us at DeptMedicine@upstate.edu to find out more.
