Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma can both cause breathing problems and a cough. That’s why it can be hard to tell them apart. But they do have some differences. Asthma usually starts in childhood, and symptoms come and go. Meanwhile, COPD often shows up later in life and causes daily symptoms.
To get diagnosed with asthma or COPD, you’ll have to talk with a healthcare professional. You may also need an X-ray, CT scan, and breathing tests. But if you’re wondering whether to get checked, this quiz is a good place to start.
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Written by:
Sarah Gupta, MDSarah Gupta, MD, is a licensed physician with a special interest in mental health, sex and gender, eating disorders, and the human microbiome. She is currently board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
Edited by:
Sophie Vergnaud, MDSophie Vergnaud, MD, is the Senior Medical Director for GoodRx Health. A pulmonologist and hospitalist, she practiced and taught clinical medicine at hospitals in London for a decade before entering a career in health education and technology.
