Asthma and COPD
Asthma and COPD are long-term lung conditions that narrow the airways and cause cough, wheeze and breathlessness. Asthma often starts young and comes and goes, while COPD usually affects older adults exposed to smoking, chulha smoke or dust, and tends to worsen slowly. At Medcare in Bongaigaon, Dr. Tamoghna Das confirms the diagnosis with spirometry, a breathing test done in the clinic, and sets up an inhaler plan you understand and can follow.
At a glance
- Asthma: airways become swollen and tight, with symptoms that come and go, often triggered by dust, cold air, smoke or infections
- COPD: long-term damage to the airways and lungs, mostly from tobacco smoke, wood or chulha smoke, and dust at work
- Main test: spirometry, which measures how much and how fast you can breathe out
- Main treatment: inhalers used correctly, avoiding triggers, vaccines and an action plan
- At Medcare: consultation, spirometry, inhaler technique training, ECG and echo when breathlessness may be from the heart
Signs to get checked
- Cough lasting more than 3 weeks, or cough that returns every winter
- Wheezing or whistling in the chest
- Breathlessness on walking or climbing stairs
- Chest tightness, especially at night or early morning
- Waking at night with cough or breathlessness
- Frequent chest infections
What happens at Medcare
- History. Symptoms, triggers, smoking or smoke exposure at home and work, allergies, and past inhaler use.
- Examination. Chest, oxygen level and signs of other causes.
- Spirometry. You breathe out as hard and fast as you can into a mouthpiece, sometimes before and after a reliever inhaler. It shows whether the airways are narrowed and whether the narrowing improves.
- Heart check when needed. Breathlessness can also come from the heart, so ECG or echo may be done, especially in older adults, people with diabetes or high BP.
- Inhaler plan and training. The right inhaler, the right device, and a hands-on check of your technique.
- Action plan. What to do every day, what to do when symptoms worsen, and when to seek urgent help.
- History. Symptoms, triggers, smoking or smoke exposure at home and work, allergies, and past inhaler use.
- Examination. Chest, oxygen level and signs of other causes.
- Spirometry. You breathe out as hard and fast as you can into a mouthpiece, sometimes before and after a reliever inhaler. It shows whether the airways are narrowed and whether the narrowing improves.
- Heart check when needed. Breathlessness can also come from the heart, so ECG or echo may be done, especially in older adults, people with diabetes or high BP.
- Inhaler plan and training. The right inhaler, the right device, and a hands-on check of your technique.
- Action plan. What to do every day, what to do when symptoms worsen, and when to seek urgent help.
Inhalers: getting them right
Inhalers deliver medicine straight into the airways in small doses, so they work well with fewer side effects than tablets. But many people use them incorrectly and get little benefit. At every visit we check:
- Breathing out fully before using the inhaler
- Timing the press with a slow deep breath in
- Holding the breath for up to 10 seconds
- Using a spacer when needed
- Rinsing the mouth after preventer inhalers
Reducing flare-ups
- Stop smoking and avoid others' smoke
- Use a smoke-free stove where possible, and keep the kitchen ventilated
- Wear a mask in dusty work and during heavy pollution
- Get flu and pneumonia vaccines as advised
- Keep your reliever inhaler with you
- Do not stop your preventer inhaler when you feel well
When to see a doctor urgently
Call 108 or 112 if you are too breathless to speak in full sentences, your lips or fingertips turn blue or grey, your reliever inhaler does not help or is needed every few minutes, you feel drowsy or confused, or your chest feels very tight.
FAQs
What is spirometry and does it hurt?
Spirometry is a simple breathing test. You take a deep breath and blow out as hard and fast as you can into a mouthpiece, a few times. It does not hurt, though it can make you briefly tired or light-headed. It takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Are inhalers addictive or harmful?
No. Inhalers are not addictive. They deliver small doses of medicine directly to the lungs, so side effects are usually fewer than with tablets or syrups. Preventer inhalers keep airways calm and reduce attacks. Rinsing your mouth after use prevents mouth soreness.
What is the difference between asthma and COPD?
Asthma often starts at a younger age, comes and goes, and the airways usually open up well with treatment. COPD usually starts after 40 in people exposed to smoke or dust, and the narrowing does not fully reverse. Some people have features of both. Spirometry helps tell them apart.
Can COPD be reversed?
Lung damage in COPD does not fully reverse, but treatment can greatly improve breathing, activity and quality of life. Stopping smoking slows further damage at any age. Inhalers, vaccines, exercise and quick treatment of flare-ups help most people stay active.
Is my breathlessness from my lungs or my heart?
Both can cause breathlessness, and some people have both. Spirometry checks the lungs, while ECG and echo check the heart. Because Medcare does both, Dr. Das can find the cause in the same visit in many cases.
Sources
- Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) report (current edition)
- Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) report (current edition)
- Indian Chest Society and NCCP guidelines
Related care
Medically reviewed by Dr. Tamoghna Das, MBBS, MD (Medicine) · Assam Council of Medical Registration No. 20276 · Last reviewed 3 October 2026
Book a visit with Dr. Tamoghna Das
Call 60031 21297 or send a WhatsApp message. We confirm your time within 30 to 60 minutes during clinic hours.