Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, refers to a group of diseases that cause airflow blockage and breathing-related problems. COPD most commonly includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema and usually results from tobacco use, although it can also be a result of pollutants in the air, genetic factors, and respiratory infections. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, wheezing, and chronic cough. Although there is no cure for COPD, smoking cessation, medications, and therapy or surgery can help individuals manage their symptoms.

Asthma is a condition in which a person's air passages become inflamed, and the narrowing of the respiratory passages makes it difficult to breathe. Symptoms can include tightness in the chest, coughing, and wheezing. These symptoms are often brought on by exposure to inhaled allergens, such as dust, pollen, mold, cigarette smoke, and animal dander, or by exertion and stress. Reducing exposure to poor housing conditions, traffic pollution, secondhand smoke and other factors impacting air quality can help prevent asthma and asthma attacks. There is no cure for asthma, but for most people, the symptoms can be managed through a combination of long-term medication prevention strategies and short-term quick relievers. In some cases, however, asthma symptoms are severe enough to warrant hospitalization, and can result in death.