Adult Onset Asthma
When we hear the word asthma or think of it, we usually get the idea that it is a childhood
disease, and that adults are at no risk of developing asthma symptoms. Well, asthma is more
frequent in kids, but there is also the adult type, called "adult onset asthma". Diagnosis is a bit
difficult, as many of its manifestations overlap with symptoms common in other respiratory
diseases. This is the case for hiatal hernia, some gastric disorders, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease or rheumatoid arthritis. Also, in adults lung function deteriorates from 40
years of age onwards, something that can distract a physician from considering the asthma
diagnosis when assessing your symptoms.
However, adult asthma can be suspected when breathing becomes difficult or we feel short of
breath, the production of mucus increases, dry coughing is frequent (especially at night), chest
feels tight or under pressure, we experience wheezing when breathing, and colds tend to go to
the chest and remain there for more than 10 days. The illness is also caused, as in children, by
inflammation/obstruction of the airways.
Relevant risk factors for the onset of adult asthma are hormonal changes in women (e.g.
during pregnancy or menopause), hormonal replacement therapy with estrogens for 10 years
or more (after menopause), respiratory diseases (e.g. in the form of flu, viruses), allergies (at
least in 30-50% of cases of adult asthma) and exposure to environmental irritating substances:
mold, dust, volatile toxics, pollutant particles, cigarette smoke, etc. Substances in this last
group are called asthma triggers, and are not to be confused with causes which, in many cases,
remain unknown. For instance, smoking does not cause asthma, but it is a powerful trigger of
symptoms.
What to do? Well, if you have any of those symptoms, regardless their potential to finally
result in an adult onset asthma, do check them with your physician. Remember that once lung
function deteriorates it does not recover, and any untreated respiratory condition can worsen
this. If you have never experienced an asthma attack, do not wait until it looks you in the
eye -you are not going to like it, and it can be really dangerous: without proper and prompt
treatment, an asthma attack can kill you. Your doctor will prescribe medication and give you
valuable advice on how to control the condition, and avoid the triggering of symptoms. You
will probably be warned also about the use of other substances (even some of the ubiquitous
over-the-counter drugs) which can have adverse effects on your asthma or interact with the
newly prescribed medicines.
by: Maria Gonzales
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