Reactive Airway Disease (RAD)

Reactive airway disease is a set of symptoms that may sometimes be caused by asthma. The symptoms include coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
Although, the terms RAD, Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease  are often used interchangeably, there are major differences between them.

Reactive airway disease is a term used to describe a set of symptoms that indicate a person is having a bronchial spasm. A bronchial spasm happens when the bronchial tubes (airway) is irritated by irritants. This may cause wheezing, Coughing, shortness of breath.
Some scientists argue that the term reactive airway disease is vague and confusing. They believe that doctors should wait until they reach a diagnosis before labeling a set of symptoms.
Below are the difference between these related conditions and reactive airway disease.
Reactive airway disease vs. asthma
In pediatrics, doctors use the term reactive airway disease to describe a set of symptoms that may indicate a child has asthma.
Further tests help the doctor diagnose or rule out asthma. But it can be difficult to diagnose asthma in early childhood. Below the age of 5, tests for asthma may not give an accurate result.
Physicians may use the term reactive airway disease until they have reached an accurate diagnosis. Although it is known that doctors use the term reactive airway disease interchangeably with asthma but it is ideal that when the term is used,  the doctor should clarify whether further tests for asthma will be needed.
Reactive airway disease vs. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Reactive airway disease is sometimes used to describe symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, reactive airway disease and COPD are not the same.
COPD requires more involved treatment. It is a group of lung diseases that make it hard to breathe. These diseases include emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Smoking often causes COPD. As it progresses, breathing can become increasingly difficult. It is important to talk to a doctor about the best treatments for COPD.
Symptoms
The symptoms of reactive airway disease are the same as those seen in asthma. They indicate that the airways have been irritated and include coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, mucus in the airways, swelling of the airway lining, hypersensitive airways.
Causes
Like asthma, reactive airway disease often develops after a person has had an infection. This occurs when the airways overreact to an irritant, which leads to swelling. Swelling causes the airway to narrow making breathing harder. Examples of irritants include pollen, stress, perfume, changes in weather, mold, exercise hair, smoke, dust,.
Risk factors
Smoking cigarettes irritates the airways and damages the lungs. Smokers risk developing reactive airway disease and the persistence irritation of  the airways through smoking increases the risk of later development of COPD, which is not curable. Lifelong smokers have a 50 percent chance of developing COPD.
Treatment
If a person experiences regular coughing, wheezing or breathing difficulties, this may be a medical emergency. Consult your doctor as soon as possible to determine the cause. Once a doctor has diagnosed the underlying condition causing reactive airway disease, symptoms can be managed with the right treatment.