Adult Onset Asthma

Asthma is a chronic condition that results from reactions in the airways to particular allergens or other stimuli. If not treated properly, asthma can eventually become life-threatening.

Most people who suffer from asthma develop the condition fairly early in life, but not everyone. It can develop during middle age or even older in some people. When this happens, it is known as Adult Onset Asthma.

Because asthma symptoms can be quite similar to other illnesses than can develop in adults, such as chest problems, coughs and even heart disease, it's important that you get proper diagnosis.

Some of the common symptoms of adult onset asthma include:

- Persistent coughing
- Pain or tightness in the chest
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath

Quite a few things can cause asthma to come on as an adult. One of the most common triggers, and also one of the most severe, is smoking. Cigarette smoke can lead to acute asthma attacks plus an increase in sensitivity to other allergens.

Smoking will always increase the severity of an asthma condition, plus it can lead to other conditions such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulomary disease).

Smoking is not only a problem for the person smoking either. Second hand smoke is just as much of an irritant, and can aggravate asthma in anyone who is exposed to it.

Some other common triggers for adult onset asthma include:

- Infections
- Strong smells
- Exercise
- Dust
- Pollen, mold or other allergens

Asthma is unfortunately a permanent condition, not something that is treated and then disappears. Even if the symptoms are not obvious, the underlying condition still exists.

As you age, your lungs lose some of their capacity and strength, which can lead to even more pronounced effects from asthma. Adult onset asthma must be managed effectively to avoid deterioration of the lungs, from which they might not be able to recover.