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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that makes airways (bronchial tubes) particularly sensitive to irritants, and this is characterized by difficulty in breathing. People with asthma have extra sensitive or hyper-responsive airways. When a person experiences a worsening of their asthma symptoms, it is called an asthma episode or, in severe cases, an asthma attack. Learning the warning signs can often alert a sufferer in time to take preventive action, such as medication. The information provided here will help you better understand asthma, its symptoms, and how to cope with this disease. If you think you may have asthma, seek professional medical attention. Asthma In AdultsAsthma is a chronic lung disease, which is caused by an increased reaction from the airways to various stimuli. It is a persistent inflammatory condition with acute specific exacerbations. If asthma is not properly managed or treated, it can become a life-threatening disease. A person in middle age or older can at times develop asthma and this is called adult onset asthma. A careful diagnosis of asthma is very significant, because very often the symptoms can be confused with other very similar illnesses of middle age such as specific types of heart disease chest ailments or cough. It’s been discovered that Asthma in adults is often a recurrence of childhood asthma. Sometimes a child’s asthma persists into adulthood, or very often childhood asthma disappears only to recur later in life as adult onset asthma. Therefore an appropriate diagnosis is essential. Asthma symptoms: The usual asthma symptoms in adults are as follows, * Wheezing * Breathlessness * Cough * Tightness of the chest * Production of mucus. Asthma triggers in adults: Cigarette Smoking: - Bronchial asthma is a very common disease and is an important cause of morbidity amongst both children and adults. Tobacco smoking, which is both active and passive, can have dire effects on asthma. Bronchial irritation is often caused by exposure to cigarette smoking and can precipitate acute episodes of Asthma. It also increases bronchial receptiveness and causes airway sensitization to some occupational allergens. For any asthmatic, smoking will always increase their disease severity and is the probable cause of irreversible Airway’s obstruction and also the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (COPD) * Smoking is frequently associated with * Increased asthma symptoms, * Respiratory infections, * Acute episodes * And the frequent hospitalization of children. * It also increases bronchial responsiveness and any specific airway sensitization. Similarly, uteri exposure to maternal smoking is often independently responsible for early onset of asthma. Exposure in adult asthmatics to cigarette smoking by their spouses, siblings or colleagues is equally worrying. Similar triggers A person with adult onset asthma is also sensitive to the same types of triggers, which precipitate symptoms in younger people suffering with asthma. Therefore it stands to reason that adult onset asthma can be managed by limiting the amount of exposure to specific particular triggers, which include: - * Cigarette smoke * Allergens such as pollen or mould * Infections * Fumes and strong odors * Dust mite allergen * Specific Exercise * Medications such as beta-blockers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs Asthma in adults is a permanent condition. If you suffer from Asthma as an adult, you will probably need constant medication to keep your symptoms under control for the rest of your life! Regular medication for Adult Asthma. As people get older, their lungs become much less capable which makes the efficiency of the other organs of the body that much harder. Adult onset asthma in someone middle-aged or older can accelerate any worsening lung function they may be suffering from. Adult onset asthma should be managed correctly because once the lung functioning has deteriorated it never recovers. It is very important preventive medication is prescribed and taken on a regular basis to protect lung function at all times. Things to remember a) Adult onset asthma is often a recurrence of childhood asthma, b) Symptoms can often be confused with other illnesses of middle age, such as heart disease or other chest conditions. c) People with adult onset asthma usually need to take preventive medication to protect their lung function on a regular basis. The above is only a snippet to read the full article, click here!
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Site MenuMore ArticlesAsthma cannot be cured, but for most patients it can be controlled so that they have only minimal and infrequent symptoms and they can live an active life. If you have asthma, managing it is an important part of your life. Controlling your asthma means staying away from things that bother your airways and taking medicines as directed by your doctor. By controlling your asthma every day, you can prevent serious symptoms and take part in all normal activities. If your asthma is not well controlled, you are likely to have symptoms that can make you miss school or work and keep you from doing things you enjoy. If you have asthma, you should see your doctor regularly. You will need to learn what things cause your asthma symptoms to worsen and how to avoid them. Your doctor will also prescribe medicines to keep your asthma under control. |
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