Is it possible to develop asthma

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.

Death resulting from an asthma attack is rare and mainly occurs in adults over the age of 65, according to the CDC. There are quick-relief and long-term control medications for both children and adults with asthma. Quick-relief medications are designed to ease symptoms caused by an asthma attack or flare-up.

Long-term control medications are designed to ease inflammation and swelling for longer periods of time in order to prevent both an asthma attack and the long-term airway damage caused by uncontrolled asthma. Long-term control medications are typically taken daily for months, or even years.

Most children and adults with asthma use a combination of these medicines to treat their asthma. Both adults and children need to create an asthma action plan to outline what type of medicine they should take and when. To make this plan, discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Plan what you should do in the event of an asthma flare-up.

Define at what point you need to increase treatment measures to prevent or reduce an attack. List what triggers can be avoided and the best ways to avoid them.

Share this plan with friends, relatives, and any caregivers your children may have. Asthma is a common disorder among both children and adults. Although it can lead to difficulty breathing, with proper planning and preparation it is possible to control and prevent frequent asthma attacks. There are many medications available for both short- and long-term care.

Share your plan with friends, relatives, and caregivers. Learn more about measuring your peak flow rate and 7 meters on the market. Pulmonary function tests PFTs are a group of tests that measure how well your lungs work. Learn about the different types. Spirometry is an important test for your lung health. Learn what to expect from the test and how to interpret your results. Dyspnea is the feeling that you cannot breathe in enough air. J Allergy Clin Immunol ;— Three phenotypes of adult-onset asthma.

Allergy ;— Decline of lung function in adults with bronchial asthma. Occup Med ;— Morbidity, medication and trigger factors in a community sample of adults with asthma. Med J Aust ;— Work-related exacerbation of asthma. Int J Occup Environ Hlth ;— Work related asthma. Diagnosis and management. Overweight, obesity, and incident asthma: A meta-analysis of prospective epidemiologic studies.

Prospective study of body mass index, weight change, and risk of adult-onset asthma in women. Arch Intern Med ;— Factors associated to lifestyle and risk of adult onset asthma.

Resp Med ;— Rhinitis as an independent risk factor for adult-onset asthma. Rhinitis increase the risk for adult-onset asthma — A Swedish population-based case-control study MAP-study. Respir Med ;— Incidence and prognosis of asthma and wheezing illness from early childhood to age 33 in a national British cohort.

BMJ ;— Respiratory infections precede adult-onset asthma. PLoS One ;6:e Perceived stress and risk of adult-onset asthma and other atopic disorders: A longitudinal cohort study. Pocket guide to spirometry. North Ryde: McGraw Hill, Year in review: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Respirology ;— Inhaler mishandling remains common in real life and is associated with reduced disease control. Search PubMed. Back to search results.

Also in this issue: Thorax August Focus Ordering chest X-rays in Australian general practice. Musculoskeletal chest wall pain. Interstitial lung disease in where are we now? Adult-onset asthma. Guide to thoracic imaging. Up front Editorial: Dissecting the thorax. Letters to the editor. Clinical Your questions about complementary medicines answered: gingko biloba.

Management of the disappearing skin cancer. An itchy, scaly plaque on the scalp. Age-related variation in primary care-type presentations to emergency departments. Disclosure for same-sex attracted women enhancing the quality of the patient—doctor relationship in general practice. Professional General practice ethics: text messages and boundaries in the GP—patient relationship.

Those who have completed training in those specialties are usually called board-certified or board-eligible. The key to good living with asthma is developing a strong partnership between patients, caregivers, and physicians.

Practical steps include the following:. An asthma management plan helps you understand what to do when specific situations arise. Each time you visit the physician, talk about your plan, and make any necessary changes.

Stay informed about the latest developments in asthma and allergy care and treatment. Ask your physician about new medications or research findings that may relate to your care. If you have asthma, you should see your physician at least once a year, even if your symptoms are under control.

When you become sick, or if you have significant changes in your health, you should also talk with your physician about how your asthma could be affected. Use your medications as prescribed.

With good management, asthma symptoms can be controlled. Most people who develop adult onset asthma are able to lead normal lives.

Expect success! People with multiple medical conditions need to be aware of how their illnesses and the medications they use may affect one another. If you take more than one medication, talk with your physician about ways to simplify your medication program. Explore the possibility of combining medications or using alternate ones that will have the same desired effect.

Be sure to discuss potential drug interactions with anything you take including vitamins or herbal supplements. Most health insurance plans provide some level of coverage for asthma patients. Check with your insurance carrier for details. Some things you may want to find out might include:.

The information provided in this fact sheet should not be a substitute for seeking responsible, professional medical care. All Rights Reserved. Home Membership Contact Us. Home About Us Calendar Membership. Adult Onset Asthma Although many people first develop asthma during childhood, asthma symptoms can occur at any time in life.

What is adult onset asthma? How does adult onset asthma compare with childhood asthma? What is asthma? Who gets adult onset asthma? What causes adults to develop asthma? Prolonged exposure to certain workplace materials may set off asthma symptoms in adults. Can asthma reappear in adults after disappearing years ago? What are signs and symptoms of adult onset asthma?

Asthma symptoms can mimic other illnesses or diseases especially in older adults. For example: Hiatal hernia, stomach problems, heart failure, or rheumatic arthritis can create asthma-like symptoms. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD has many of the same symptoms as asthma.