Primary Causes for Adult Onset Asthma

Most people think that asthma is an illness that is a person has their entire life. However, the truth is that there are factors that contribute to the development of asthma over time. Most people develop asthma when they are young, but symptoms may not who until you are an adult. Called adult onset asthma, there are a wealth of cases where people did not present asthma symptoms until they were in their 50s or older.

The following are some of the primary causes for asthma to present in adults.

Allergies

Allergies results in roughly 30% of the occurrence of adult onset asthma. Regular exposure to allergens can trigger asthma symptoms. If you regular suffer from allergies, it is better to be cautious about the possibility that it could lead to the presentation of asthma symptoms.

Hormones

Like allergies, hormone fluctuations can trigger asthma symptoms, particularly in women. For adults, the times where hormone changes are likely to cause asthma symptoms to appear are pregnancy and menopause. If you find that you are experiencing shortness of breath during either of these phases, it would be best to check with an asthma specialist to see if the issue goes beyond just a hormone imbalance.

Illness

Different types of infections and viruses can trigger asthma symptoms, and it is likely more difficult to detect during these times. Even illnesses as innocuous sounds as a bad cold can result in asthma symptoms appearing.

Smoke

Surprisingly, smoking is not a cause for the illness, but it can provide symptoms if they have already presented. This is true for smokers and those who are regularly exposed to second-and smoke. You should probably be consulting with a pulmonary specialist if you smoke or if you are frequently exposed to smoke. Shortness of breath could be caused by something more insidious than adult onset asthma.

If you have been experiencing problems with breathing, but have not been diagnosed with asthma, that does not mean you do not have it. Call or schedule an appointment with one of our specialists today and get comprehensive testing and treatment for your asthma.