RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Diagnosis of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in general practice. JF British Journal of General Practice JO Br J Gen Pract FD British Journal of General Practice SP 193 OP 197 VO 46 IS 404 A1 C P Van Schayck YR 1996 UL http://bjgp.org/content/46/404/193.abstract AB There may be an overlap between the clinical pictures of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease which hampers a clear distinction between the two diseases. Most symptoms presented by patients do not clearly belong exclusively to either asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. By the nature of their discipline and training, general practitioners focus mainly on symptoms presented, which do not give a decisive answer in the differential diagnosis between the two diseases. Therefore, general practitioners must rely on objective parameters, such as determining the presence and degree of reversibility of airway obstruction, diurnal peak flow variability, bronchial hyper-responsiveness and allergy. This paper puts forward a pragmatic, primary care definition of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.