Asthma is an allergic reaction to the breathing system and it is quite common in both children and adults. Here is everything you need to know about adult-onset asthma and about its symptoms and causes before you visit an allergy center.

What Is Adult-Onset Asthma?

Before diving into the nitty gritty of adult-onset asthma, the basics of asthma should be established first. Asthma is a breathing disorder of the lungs, in which a person may feel out of breath all of a sudden and may experience inability to breathe. The type of asthma which is diagnosed in people above the age of 18 is termed as adult-onset asthma. It is basically the condition of asthma in adults. The inability or obstruction in breathing can be due to one or more of the following reasons:

• Your lungs might be infected or there may be some blockage or inflammation which is preventing smooth breathing through the proper channel.
• The mucus build up may be too much in your airways. Due to infections, the production of mucus can be quite high and the consistency of mucus produced may be quite thick than usual. This can cause a huge obstruction in breathing.
• There might be collapsing or narrowing of the airways which may cause breathing to be stopped. The narrowness of the airways can be due to many reasons. There might not be enough pressure in the airways which can cause collapse of the bronchial airways or there might be mucus or infections which are causing your breathing airways to become narrow.

Symptoms Of Adult-Onset Asthma

The symptoms of adult-onset asthma are as follows:

• Difficulties in breathing. This is the most obvious symptom of them all, and it usually leads to a case of asthma. Not breathing normally is quite alarming so you need to get yourself checked.
• You will feel tightening of the chest. This is also a very classic asthma symptom. People who have asthma attacks can feel like their chest is being contracted or squeezed and you feel as though all air has left your lungs.
• You will experience coughing, especially at night time when you are laying down. This has to do with obstruction in your breathing airways. If there is mucus or inflammation in your airways, then you will go in a fit of coughing, especially when you lay flat on your back.

Causes Of Adult-Onset Asthma

Some potential causes of adult-onset asthma are as follows:

• If you are a smoker, then you might develop onset asthma in the coming years. Smoking weakens your lungs and it causes a lot of difficulty in breathing. In worst cases, smoking may also lead to unexplained inflammation throughout your airways and lungs and this will lead to a lot of problems in breathing in general.
• Women who are pregnant can also experience onset asthma, especially during their final trimester. The reason why is because your lungs start to squeeze around, because your belly is getting bigger and bigger. It might lead to shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing.
• Genes and heredity play a huge role in asthma. You might have a family history of weak breathing and lungs, and it can morph into serious cases of asthma when you get old. So, it is better to have yourself checked out by a doctor if you feel the symptoms of allergic reactions or asthma coming on to you.

Treatment For Adult Onset Asthma

Here are some treatment options for adult-onset asthma.

• The best treatment for asthma is using anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs will help to reduce any inflammation in your lungs, which will lead you to breathe better.
• Lifestyle changes can also make a huge difference in your asthma. Make sure that you surround yourself with pure air and take care of your hygiene.
• Having your inhaler on hand is a great idea.

There you have it! Now you know everything there is to adult-onset asthma. One thing to keep in mind is that being an early bird is a life saver and you can prevent many problems if you have the asthma treated on time.

Moreover, go to an experienced asthma doctor for treatment of adult-onset asthma and make lifestyle changes to treat or manage it effectively.