Left untreated will asthma always turn into COPD?

Question:

Answers:
Asthma is COPD. COPD is a group if diseases known as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Also included in this category is emphysema and chronic bronchitis. These diseases are characterized as obstructive meaning the problem is getting air out of the lungs. Left untreated, the damage to the lungs caused by asthma can become very serious eventually causing death or requiring a transplant.

Other Answers:
COPD is a condition that usually composes of two or more of the following disease processes.
Asthma, Emphysema, Chronic Bronchitis.

Asthma is the easiest to treat but is not preventable.
Chronic Bronchitis is fairly easy to treat but why is it chronic?
Emphysema can be prevented by avoiding exposure to carcinogenic agents such as first or second hand smoke (pipe/cigarette/cigar)

Now by treating asthma and hopefully preventing serious attacks you can delay the onset of COPD.

I cant say that it will always turn into COPD because if asthma is left untreated it may result in DEATH from a sudden acute attack. It is not something to play with.

It is possible especially for young children to "outgrow" there asthma, especially when there lung issues were due to prematurity. and some people do outgrow allergies that trigger there asthma attacks.

That is like asking "If I go skydiving and opt-out on using a parachute, will I get a broken bone?" At this point COPD is the least of your concerns. Asthma should never, under any circumstances be left untreated. Asthma can certainly be a factor that will cause someone to be diagnosed with COPD later on in life, especially if not maintained properly. Get with your doctor, get a good maintainance and treatment regimen worked out that your doctor will approve of and stick with it. Hope this helps at all, God Bless
Source(s):
I am a Respiratory Therapist

OK..time to get involved with this one I think (Board-certified Allergist here.). Asthma, though correctly identified as an obstructive type of airways disease is NOT classified classically in the same breath (no pun intended!) as TRUE "COPD" ! COPD is a term most often limited to the other two diseases mentioned here (Chronic bronchitis and Emphysema) which are TOTALLY SEPARATE from bronchial asthma! They are primarily SMOKERS' diseases (including 2nd hand smokers by the way!). Asthma, even sub-optimally treated asthma, does NOT "turn into" COPD! It can, however, if not aggressively managed, become a disease featuring LESS reversibly obstruction with medication and intervention.thus, aggressive anti-inflammatory medications (particularly inhaled corticosteroids) ought to be prescribed and used on a daily basis by all persistent adult asthmatics and most pediatric asthmatics as well (though there are a few other valid options for the kids). Only mild, EPISODIC asthmatics need NOT use medications on a daily basis and only need their "rescue" inhaler to be kept on-hand for an as needed (and/or pre-exercise!) basis! Hope that clears it all up for you and you find my response to be a breath of fresh air (ugh!). GOOD LUCK!
Source(s):
My medical expertise as a board certified Allergist-Immunologist

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Left untreated will asthma always turn into COPD?

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