Ask an Expert: Asthma or emphysema?

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Asthma or emphysema?
03/21/2008

Question:

I am a 52 year old woman who has smoked for around thirty years about 7 cigarettes a day and was recently sent for a spirometry at my doctors this came back good 94% the nurse said better than my predicted for my age etc. I was becoming breathless when speaking, nothing else, but there had been a lot going off at home and I thought it was nerves. The nurse in the doctors gave me salbutomol for reversibility and although my readings remained the same my breathlessness dissappeared for a full day and a half. I was admitted to hosp to get to the bottom of my breathlessness, (no cough, mucus or wheeze) and was sent for a spirometry and (is it gas diffusion box? not sure what its called) The hospital said the results indicated emphysema my doctor said he thought more asthma than emphysema but I am just not sure, here are my results, just wondered if you had any thoughts on them, Thankyou so much I will send them in a seperate e mail as this format will not accept them thankyou. p.s. I aslo had a dilation for achalasia a few years ago just wondered if this can cause breathlessness.

Answer:

Thank you for visiting NetWellness. This question is related to a previously answered question. The link below will connect you to that information. Feel free to write back if you still have questions or need an explanation.

Related Resources:

Asthma, emphysema or neither?

For more information:

Go to the COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) health topic, where you can:

Read articles on this topic
Browse the previously asked questions

Response by:

NetWellness Staff
NetWellness.org