Asthma, Bronchitis and COPD
Scientific information for persons afflicted by asthma, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Provided by Joachim Freischem, Pharmacist
When you're short of breath, it's hard or uncomfortable for you to take in the oxygen your body needs. You may feel as if you're not getting enough air. Sometimes mild breathing problems are from a stuffy nose or hard exercise. But shortness of breath can also be a sign of a serious disease.
Many conditions can make you feel short of breath. Lung conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, COPD, emphysema or pneumonia cause breathing difficulties.
Don´t forget: alos heart disease can make you feel breathless if your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply oxygen to your body. Stress caused by anxiety can also make it hard for you to breathe. If you often have trouble breathing, it is important to find out the cause.
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways. Asthma causes recurring periods of wheezing (a whistling sound when you breathe), chest tightness, shortness of breath, trouble breathing and coughing. The coughing often occurs at night or early in the morning.
Bronchitis is an inflammation of the main air passages (bronchi) to your lungs. It causes a cough, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Coughing often brings up yellow or greenish mucus. There are two main types of bronchitis: acute and chronic.
- Acute bronchitis is often caused by the same viruses that cause colds. It usually starts as a sore throat, runny nose or sinus infection, then spreads to your airways. It can cause a lingering dry cough, but it usually goes away on its own.
- Chronic bronchitis is one type of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). The inflamed bronchi produce a lot of mucus. This leads to cough and difficulty getting air in and out of the lungs. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause. Breathing in other fumes and dusts over a long period of time may also cause chronic bronchitis. Treatment will help your symptoms, but chronic bronchitis is a long-term condition that keeps coming back or never goes away completely.
If you have any breathing problems, this website provides extensive information on ASTHMA, BRONCHITIS and COPD. You will find the basics, FAQ´s, a glossary, helpful links, News, and study and research activities.
Please note: no medical reference replaces the advice of your healthcare professional. If you ever have any questions about asthma, bronchitis, COPD or the material presented in this Website, talk to your healthcare professional!
Btw: GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) believes people who don’t have prescription drug coverage should be able to get the medicines they need:
