Asthma or Tamaka swasa is a breathing disorder that causes swelling in the windpipe thus making it narrow. However, it can be best managed with Ayurvedic treatment for asthma. COPD, on the other side, is an obstructive disorder which means there is an obstruction or blockage in the airways so it is also a respiration problem. The full form of COPD is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which clearly means that it blocks the respiratory canal of the body. They are both the reason behind many deaths that happen around the globe.
Which one is more Dangerous – Asthma or COPD?
COPD and asthma are both different breathing disorders but one can lead to another, which means asthma or Tamaka swasa can be a cause of COPD. Also, both of them sometimes look similar but they are different respiratory issues with different symptoms. In Ayurveda, they are both pranvaha srota vikaras, which means they both affect the pathways (nasal passage) through which prana vayu (breath) flows.
When a person is suffering from asthma and air passage becomes narrow due to swelling, it gets difficult to breathe. However, when a person is suffering from COPD airways are almost blocked. Asthma (Tamaka swasa) can also produce a lot of mucus in the system which can affect the normal functioning of the body. Whenever a tamaka swasa (asthma) patient exerts their body, they can get a flare-up or attack which makes it challenging for them to breathe.
Asthma can cause attacks or there can be a period when the symptoms are very intense and there can also be times when the symptoms are subsided. Whereas, COPD keeps getting progressive which means the symptoms keep on getting worse. It is mostly a combination (roga sanyojana) of two or more diseases that affect the airways and as a result, the whole respiratory system (pranavaha srota) gets damaged. The damage caused by COPD is also very difficult or almost impossible to undo. This is the hallmark or significant point of difference between COPD and asthma. Apart from these, the reasons behind these disorders, symptoms, the affected region, consequences, and course of treatment are different. COPD is a more dangerous disease than asthma because the symptoms are very severe. It is also lethal (can cause death) and has also caused various deaths.
Both of these pranavaha vikaras (breathing diseases) have symptoms that may look the same, but they have different types of symptoms according to stages:
Symptoms of Asthma
- Feeling shortness of breath which means it feels suffocated and not able to breathe properly.
- If the patient exerts their body which means they do something tiring or some excess muscle activity, then they may experience breathlessness.
- The breath can become noisy and it can sound like wheezing or rattling when an asthma patient breathes.
- The chest area may feel heavy and congested because there is swelling in the nasal passage (pranavaha srota) and it becomes narrow.
- The patient may also experience constant coughing or an urge to cough because there is congestion in the chest area.
Symptoms of COPD
- The patient may experience respiratory distress which means the breathing becomes difficult and it can also be painful.
- There can be muscle wasting or lack of energy in the body which gives a constant sensation of weakness and tiredness.
- There can also be prolonged expiration which means there can be a very long gap between inhalation and exhalation and it makes this disease very dangerous.
- There can be swelling in the lower body like legs, ankles, and feet.
- The patient may even lose weight due to stress on the body, weakening of muscles, and lower immunity of the body. The body begins to lose nutrients and weight.
Can you get both Asthma and COPD?
These are some of the indications of both these pranavaha vikaras or breathing disorders. However there can be people who can get both of them, but how? A person, who is already diagnosed with asthma is constantly irritated by some harmful allergens can make the patient more sick. These allergens are some harsh substances in the environment like smoke, dust, and industrial smoke. So when an asthma patient stays in this harsh environment for a long time then it is a fair possibility that they can get COPD too. It is a progressive disease which means it can keep on getting worse and the damage cannot be changed.
Ayurvedic Treatment
However, when it comes to long-term benefits and managing the health with help of Mother Nature, Ayurveda is the first choice. Treatment of COPD in Ayurveda is the best approach to treat lungs. Asthma can be well managed in Ayurveda. It involves natural herbs, diet, and lifestyle changes:
Herbs (oshadhi)
Various herbs (oshadhi) can be added to the diet or they can be boiled in water to make a herbal tea and then consumed. Adding honey to herbal teas will also help in better absorption. Some of these herbs are:
- Ginger
- Basil leaves
- Turmeric
- Cinnamon
- Fennel seeds
- Mustard seeds
Diet (Ahara)
- Also, eat your meals in the daytime and avoid having food after sunset. Eat a light dinner and do not eat anything 3 hours before sleep.
- Eat a lot of vegetables and fruits as they are easy to digest and provide nutrients to the body.
- Drink fresh fruit and vegetable juices as they are easy to consume and will pass through the food pipe even during swelling.
Lifestyle (Vihara)
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Add yoga and gentle stretching to your routine. It will help in the healthy flow of blood.
- Make a good sleep routine and have an ample amount of rest and sleep.
- Stay calm and relaxed and practice meditation and breathing exercises, as they will also help protect against asthma attacks.
- Meditation practices can also help in increasing lung capacity and reducing breathlessness.
These are some Ayurvedic tips and tricks for asthma, but it is best to consult a vaid or vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor) for proper treatment. Every person may have different symptoms and different intensities of the disease. So, it is best to consult an Ayurvedic practitioner for proper Ayurvedic treatment. One of the leading institutes in the world of Ayurveda is Dr. Sharda Ayurveda who provides both online and offline services.
