Copd or asthma

[Sc99By542]

Last year my doctor said i had copd mild but after exray and spirometer test recently said it is still asthma I am a little confused

[Hidden]

Hi this is very common as even doctors can find it difficult to distinguish between asthma and copd. If you are mild then you can sometimes slip back into borderline and maybe even a few points over the copd level.

For example anyone with a lung function (FEV1) between 90%-100% is just considered a variation of the norm. If you have an FEV1 of 88% for example, (which is classed as copd) then as it can vary by a few points at any given time it could have gone up to say 92%. In which case you have just slipped out of the copd range. This happened to me as I have had asthma for many years and was diagnosed with copd. The next time I went I was told I had slipped out of it.

This is a warning sign (if you don't already) to lead as healthy a lifestyle as you can and take great care of your lungs. x

[Sc99By542 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks My breathing has been quite bad for a long time but on a good day with medication I get along OK as long as I do not rush too much

[ros15]

Hi. I have been in a similar situation where my respiratory consultant says that I have one thing (COPD) but then after having scans and other tests, says that the tests show that I don't have it (COPD). I think what happens is that he is making a diagnosis based on my symptoms and his knowledge and then the tests results either confirm (or not) his diagnosis. It seems to me a rather odd way of going about things, but now that I think I have worked out what is happening I have got used to it.

[Hidden]

Hi ros15 I would be surprised if your consultant does that as the tests are definitive and are the only way to reliably tell whether you have copd or not. Symptoms can be different for everybody depending on a wide variety of factors. x

[ros15]

Hi Lilaclil. I agree - the tests should be definitive although there is always the matter of interpretation and everyone's symptoms do differ. I guess it's rather like putting a jigsaw puzzle together!