Most people first experience asthma symptoms sometime during childhood. However, it’s also possible for a person to first experience symptoms during adulthood, which is known as adult-onset asthma. Receiving the proper asthma diagnosis in adulthood is key for finding the best treatment to manage the condition.
Symptoms of adult-onset asthma usually occur after the age of 20. Due to inflammation in the lungs and excessive production of thick mucus, people with asthma experience shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. These symptoms can range from mild to severe, meaning they limit everyday activities. Certain risk factors, such as the following, can increase the chance of developing adult-onset asthma:
To diagnose this type of asthma, doctors will collect a patient’s prior healthcare history while also performing certain tests, including a pulmonary function test.
Medication is often effective when it comes to managing symptoms of asthma. For instance, bronchodilators are used to relax muscles around the lungs, which allow the airways to open fully and draw in a sufficient amount of air.
Doctors can also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to manage swelling in the lungs. This includes inhaled steroids, which are taken daily. Patients can also receive oral steroids to address sudden flare ups of asthma symptoms. It’s common to provide both bronchodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs when controlling asthma.