Adult Onset Asthma: It's a Lifestyle Change You Can Handle

So you've been diagnosed with adult onset asthma.  You're probably wondering, "Why? How could this happen?" Despite years of research, doctors are still uncertain as to exactly why asthma occurs. Asthma is a respiratory disease that causes the bronchial airways leading to the lungs to constrict and close up. This constriction, known as an "asthma attack", causes that person to not be able to breathe. Uncontrolled, asthma is a very serious, even life threatening condition. Most asthmatics are diagnosed as children, who must learn early on how to manage and cope with their disease. However, when adult onset asthma occurs, it’s a big, even frightening, change of lifestyle.

Some people suffer from adult asthma that didn’t have asthma as a child. Adults in their 30s, and adults over the age of 65 seem to be particularly prone to adult onset asthma.  Living in an urban environment increases your risk of asthma. A personal or family history of allergy and asthma also increases your risk. If a person is diagnosed with adult onset asthma, they must take certain precautions they never had to deal with growing up. You must follow these precautions or else your adult onset asthma can seriously harm you or take your life. The precautions depend on what kind of asthma you suffer from.

Your Physician Is Your Ally

To determine what kind of adult onset asthma you suffer from, you’ll want to make an appointment with your doctor. After performing a series of tests your doctor will be able to tell you what kind of asthma you have, as well as what activities or things to avoid. For instance, if your asthma is caused by an allergy to pollen, you’ll want to stay away from areas with high concentrations of pollen. There may be other things Your physician will advise you to do to help minimize the risk of an attack.  Your doctor will also prescribe you medicine, likely including an inhaler.

Adult onset asthma doesn’t mean your life is over. It will take some getting used to but by taking positive, proactive steps, you can do what you need to do in order to prevent asthma from controlling your life.  Work with your physician and follow her advice.  Keep your inhaler with you, if it’s prescribed. Carefully note your environment, how you’re feeling, and where you are when an asthma attack occurs; perhaps you can learn to pinpoint what is bringing on your symptoms. Asthma can be managed. Over time, you will adapt just fine.

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