The difference between asthma and bronchitis plus their treatment

Asthma and bronchitis are diseases that look alike, but are not the same. Both of them make the airways become inflamed and swollen, making it difficult for air to move to the lungs. As a result, less oxygen enters. Lack of oxygen is what ultimately causes symptoms of shortness of breath, coughing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. However, make no mistake, not all symptoms of asthma are also symptoms of bronchitis. More clearly, the following is a review of the differences in asthma and bronchitis.

What is the difference between asthma and bronchitis?

The difference between asthma and bronchitis can be seen based on various things, from causes, symptoms, to treatment. Before discussing further about the difference between the symptoms of asthma and bronchitis, it is better if you first understand the fundamental differences between these two diseases.

Understanding asthma and bronchitis

Asthma

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease in which the airways become narrowed and swollen. As a result, the body releases excess mucus that clogs the airways. That is why, you have difficulty breathing, coughing, wheezing (breath sounds softly like a whistle or giggle), and tightness.

Bronchitis

Bronchitis is an infection of the respiratory tract, to be precise in the bronchi. This infection causes the airways to become inflamed. Bronchitis is divided into two, namely:

1. Acute bronchitis

Acute bronchitis is a short-term respiratory infection that usually lasts several weeks and will return to normal as the infection clears up.

2. Chronic bronchitis

Chronic bronchitis is a long-term respiratory infection that lasts for months to years and is more severe than acute bronchitis. In fact, this condition can result in permanent airway damage. Chronic bronchitis is also known to cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The difference between asthma and bronchitis is based on the cause

Experts do not know exactly what causes asthma. This disease cannot be cured, but you can control the trigger so that it does not recur and attack suddenly.

Meanwhile, the cause of bronchitis is generally a virus. According to the American College of Chest Physicians, less than 10 percent of bronchitis cases are caused by a bacterial infection. With proper treatment, this condition can be cured.

Asthma can be triggered by hereditary and environmental factors, while the risk of bronchitis can increase when you are exposed to secondhand smoke and air pollution.

The difference between asthma and bronchitis is based on the symptoms

The symptoms of asthma and bronchitis are basically the same. It's just that there are several things that differentiate it. Wheezing, shortness of breath, coughing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest are symptoms that are felt by both people with asthma and bronchitis. In addition, there are several other distinguishing symptoms, namely:

Asthma

• Attacks that are sudden and occur due to a series of triggers.
• Asthma symptoms can come and go.
• Symptoms will improve if given bronchodilator drugs.
• More often there is a wheezing sound (breath sounds soft like a whistle or giggle).

Bronchitis

• Cough with or without phlegm. Usually the sputum that is issued is clear, greenish, and yellowish in color.
• Persistent cough.
• Cold.
• Low fever with a temperature of around 37.7-38.8 degrees Celsius.
• The body feels hot and cold (chills).
• Stiffness all over the body.
• Bronchitis symptoms will persist as long as the infection is still in the body.

The difference between asthma and bronchitis is based on the treatment

Different symptoms and causes, different types of treatment. Here are the differences between bronchitis and asthma treatments.

Asthma

Usually asthma is treated by preventing the trigger. Stress, allergies, or certain drugs are one of the triggers for asthma. This condition can be treated with inhalers to treat symptoms that appear suddenly.

The inhaler contains bronchodilators to reduce symptoms of shortness of breath. For the long term to prevent asthma (controller), the doctor may give you a corticosteroid inhaler.

Bronchitis

Acute bronchitis usually goes away on its own. Your doctor will advise you to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids, and prescribe pain medication for a cough that doesn't stop.

Meanwhile, chronic bronchitis is usually treated with steroids to reduce inflammation, antibiotics, and bronchodilator drugs. This medication can also help clear the excess mucus that blocks the airways.

Chronic bronchitis that is part of COPD is treated with the aim of relieving symptoms, preventing bronchitis complications, and controlling disease progression.