In many cases, adult-onset asthma takes longer to diagnose than asthma in childhood. This is partly due to confusion with other conditions that occur in adults but are rare in children. For example, asthma that develops in adulthood is sometimes confused with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. Doctors can diagnose adult-onset asthma through a physical exam, medical history, and lung-function tests.
A lung-function test involves a series of breathing tests that measure how much air a person can inhale and exhale. People can treat adult-onset asthma with a combination of lifestyle changes and medications.
Everyone has their own treatment plan for asthma. Adults are more likely than children to have other medical conditions as well, which is a consideration when developing an asthma treatment plan.
Treatment for most types of asthma includes bronchodilators. Different types of bronchodilators are available, including long-acting and fast-acting ones. Both types can play a role in the management of asthma.
Fast-acting bronchodilators, such as albuterol , work by relaxing the muscles of the airways. As the muscles relax, the airways widen, making breathing easier. People take fast-acting bronchodilators via an inhaler or through a nebulizer.
The medications reduce sudden symptoms, such as wheezing and shortness of breath. People can also use long-acting bronchodilators to manage adult-onset asthma. These drugs also relax the airways, but they last longer than fast-acting inhalers.
Instead of treating sudden symptoms, they prevent symptoms. In some instances, people can also use inhalers that contain corticosteroids to treat adult-onset asthma.
Steroids decrease airway inflammation. Inhalers that contain corticosteroids do not treat sudden symptoms. Instead, they decrease the frequency of symptoms.
In some cases, treatment includes oral steroids. However, oral steroids may increase blood sugar levels and possibly worsen other conditions, such as glaucoma and osteoporosis , which can occur in adulthood.
One of the most important factors that influence the severity of the disease is cigarette smoking. A study looked at the factors affecting asthma severity in adults with new onset adult asthma. After two years, researchers assessed changes in asthma severity using the Global Initiative for Asthma Score. They noticed the following changes:. Daily prevention of asthma involves taking medications as prescribed. It is also vital to monitor symptoms every day and recognize signs of a flare-up.
According to the American Lung Association , of the estimated 7 million children in the United States with asthma, more than 4 million experience an asthma attack each year. Asthma is the third leading cause of hospitalizations of American children age 15 and younger.
Fortunately, asthma-related deaths in children are quite rare. Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing in the airways.
Narrowed airways cause chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Symptoms of childhood and adult-onset asthma are the same and include:. Untreated childhood asthma may have lasting impacts. For example, children with untreated asthma may have increased shortness of breath during exercise, which may discourage them from being physically active.
People with asthma can and should be active, and many athletes with asthma are able to have successful careers. Exact causes of asthma can be difficult to pinpoint. Allergies and triggers in the environment can cause asthma symptoms and an asthma flare-up, and genetics can also play a role. But the exact reasons why people develop asthma remain unclear.
Childhood asthma and adult-onset asthma share many of the same triggers. For all people with asthma, exposure to one of the following triggers may cause an asthma attack, though different people have different triggers:.
Children diagnosed with asthma are more likely to have intermittent symptoms, though some children have daily symptoms. Allergens can set off an asthma attack. Children are typically more sensitive to allergens and more prone to an asthma attack because their bodies are still developing. Children diagnosed with asthma may find that their asthma symptoms almost completely disappear or are less severe during puberty, but they may recur later in life. The American Lung Association also states that secondhand smoke is particularly dangerous for children.
An estimated , to 1 million children with asthma have their condition worsened by secondhand smoke. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC state that children with asthma are more likely to have routine office, emergency, and urgent care visits than adults with asthma. With adults, symptoms are typically persistent. Daily treatment is often required in order to keep asthma symptoms and flare-ups under control. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America , at least 30 percent of adult asthma cases are triggered by allergies.
Among adults who develop asthma, women are more likely than men to develop it after age 20, and obesity increases the risk of developing it. Taliercio says. Adult-onset asthma is more common — and more serious — than you may think.
Find out why asthma hits adults harder thank kids. Learn which symptoms to watch for and how to control your asthma. Learn more about vaccine availability. Advertising Policy. You have successfully subscribed to our newsletter. Related Articles. Trending Topics. What Parents Need to Know.
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