Though asthma is more common in children than in adults, the truth is, asthma can develop at any time—even after age 50. It's estimated that as many as 5 percent of adults in the United States may have asthma.
When asthma develops later in life, it's called adult-onset asthma. Asthma can act slightly differently in adults than it does in children. For example, when asthma occurs in childhood, boys are more apt to have it than girls. In adults, however, it's more common in women.
Adult asthma can have some detrimental effects on quality of life. In fact, adult asthma is the fourth-leading cause of missed workdays and lost productivity at work.
Adult-onset asthma symptoms
Many of the symptoms of adult asthma are similar to those in children. They include:
- Dry cough
- Chest tightness or pressure
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath
- Colds and respiratory infections that seem to last longer than average
But unlike with children, who often experience asthma episodes sporadically, adults tend to have persistent asthma symptoms that require daily medication to control. And because lung function may decrease after middle age, symptoms of adult-onset asthma are sometimes overlooked and dismissed as a general result of decreased lung capacity.
Asthma symptoms in adults are also sometimes dismissed as another health condition. In older adults, particularly, asthma symptoms may be confused with symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hiatal hernia, or stomach problems. That makes it particularly important for people to be aware of the possibility of adult-onset asthma and to have a healthcare provider (HCP) check any respiratory symptoms to ensure a correct diagnosis.
Treatment for adult-onset asthma
Although there's no cure for adult-onset asthma, the condition is manageable. Taking an active role in controlling your asthma is important. Make sure to work with your HCP to create an asthma action plan to optimize your treatment.
The asthma action plan you and your HCP create should cover:
- Monitoring your symptoms
- Taking medication as prescribed
- Avoiding your triggers
As with children, up to 50 percent of adult-onset asthma cases are associated with allergies, so management and treatment of allergies (if you have them) may be a focal part of your treatment program.
Each year more than 4,000 Americans die from asthma attacks, so don't ignore your symptoms. If you had asthma as a child, keep in mind that it may disappear for a while but can return in adulthood.
