Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are lung diseases. Both cause swelling in your airways that makes it hard to breathe.

Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out, and shortness of breath. For some people, asthma is a minor nuisance.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, cough, mucus (sputum) production, and wheezing.

What Is Asthma-COPD Overlap?

Some people have asthma and COPD at the same time. If you have symptoms of both diseases, your doctor may call it asthma-COPD overlap (ACO).

For more information, please call our office to schedule an appointment.