Asthma Symptoms in Adults

With the environment undergoing drastic changes, more and more people are getting affected by asthma: a disorder of the respiratory system i.e. lungs. Adults, who have had a good physical history, have started showing prominent asthma symptoms. Identifying such asthma symptoms in adults is therefore, tricky as not many people come to terms with it. For these adults, a little difficulty in breathing would be concluded as one of the symptoms of old age. By referring to an adult, it is someone above 20 years of age. If you have been diagnosed with asthma post 20s, it is most likely to have been allergy induced. As we grow older, the capacity of our lungs reduces considerably thereby, leading to the onset of adult asthmatic conditions.

These are certain asthma symptoms in adults:

• Coughing and formation of thick phlegm that gets worse as the night falls.
• Short and repetitive breathing patterns.  
• Increase in palpitation of the heart.
• Sweating.
• Extremely dry and an itchy throat.
• Inflammation in the airways and the bronchia.
• Wheezing sound during attacks.

Asthma symptoms in adults that develop at a later stage in life are known as an occupational disease because of over exposure to heat and dust. Therefore, adults are more likely to confuse the symptoms with other diseases and, sometimes, even ignore it. People, who are involved in welding, professional baking, carpentering and farming, have at least 60 percent probability of suffering from occupational asthma. One must visit the doctor if two or more symptoms persist for a noticeable period of time. Avoid self medication in such cases. Most people try different cough syrups at night. If it does not help, it is time for you to take this seriously and consult a doctor. Quit smoking if you have been smoking regularly.

Women, who have hormonal changes or reach menopause, are also prone to asthma. Most women take estrogen supplements post their menopause. Taking this for more than five to ten years increases their chances of getting an asthma attack by 50 percent. Adults, who are allergic to dogs and cats, also develop chronic asthma attacks in the later stages of their life.

Your doctor will detect the onset of adult asthma by discussing your medical history in detail. Analyzing your breathing patterns and taking a proper lung-function test or Spirometer test will tell you how fast you empty your lungs at one round of inhale-exhale. A chest x-ray is followed by this and further diagnosis is made on the basis of the x-ray. Treatments such as inhalers, anti-inflammatory, bronchodilators, muscle relaxants and drugs as such are prescribed to keep asthma under check. Monitoring the symptoms is an important part of asthma. Therefore, get your action plan ready! If you lead a cautious life, asthma attacks cannot stop you from leading a healthy lifestyle!