You may be able to get help with some of the extra costs caused by long term ill-health or disability. If youâre aged 16 to 64 you could get between Â£22 and Â£141.10 a week by claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The amount you get depends on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself. Youâll be assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help you can get.
The preliminary diagnosis of COPD is diagnosed in a person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease symptoms by. his/her breathing history, the history of tobacco smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, and/or; exposure to air pollutants, and/or a history of lung disease (for example, pneumonia).
Why Asthma and COPD Are Often Confused. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a general term that describes progressive respiratory diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis. COPD is characterized by decreased airflow over time, as well as inflammation of the tissues that line the airway. Asthma is usually considered a separate respiratory disease, but sometimes itâs mistaken for COPD. The two have similar symptoms. These symptoms include chronic coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), around 24 million Americans have COPD.