What is the difference between childhood asthma and adult-onset asthma?
Symptoms of asthma in children may come and go, while symptoms of
adult-onset asthma may be continuous. People with adult-onset asthma may need
to take medication every day to manage asthma.
Adults tend to have lower lung capacity (the volume of air you are able to
take in and forcibly exhale in one second) after middle age because of changes
in muscles and stiffening of chest walls. This decreased capacity may cause
doctors to miss the diagnosis of adult-onset asthma.
How is adult-onset asthma diagnosed?
Your asthma doctor may diagnose adult-onset asthma by:
Taking a medical history, asking about symptoms, and listening to you
breathe
Performing a lung function test, using a device called a spirometer to
measure how much air you can exhale after first taking a deep breath. The
device also measures how fast you can empty your lungs. You may be asked at
some time before or after the test to inhale a short-acting bronchodilator
(medicine that opens the airways by relaxing tight muscles and that also help
clear mucus from the lungs).
Performing a methacholine challenge test. This asthma test may be performed
if your symptoms and spirometry test do not clearly show asthma. When inhaled,
methacholine causes the airways to spasm and narrow if asthma is present.
During this test, you inhale increasing amounts of methacholine aerosol mist
before and after spirometry. The methacholine test is considered positive,
meaning asthma is present, if the lung function drops by at least 20%. A
bronchodilator is always given at the end of the test to reverse the effects of
the methacholine.
Performing a chest X-ray. An X-ray is an image of the body that is created
by using low doses of radiation reflected on special film or a fluorescent
screen. X-rays can be used to diagnose a wide range of conditions, from
bronchitis to a broken bone. Your doctor might perform an X-ray exam on you in
order to see the structures inside your chest, including the heart, lungs, and
bones. By viewing your lungs, your doctor can see if you have a condition other
than asthma that may account for your symptoms. Although there may be
signs on an X-ray that suggest asthma, a person with asthma will often have a
normal chest X-ray.
Chronic cough is a cough that does not go away and is generally a symptom of another disorder such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, cigarette smoking, GERD, postnasal drip, bronchitis, pneumonia, medications, and less frequently tumors or other lung disease. Treatment of chronic cough is dependant upon the cause.
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
Asthma is a common disorder in which
chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness,
cough and wheezing.
An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to it. It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions. The parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies include the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common allergic disorders include hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives, and allergic shock.
Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. The flu may be prevented with an annual influenza vaccination.
Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been
considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight.
That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and
build.
Smoking is an addiction. More than 430,000 deaths occur each year in the U.S. from smoking related illnesses. Secondhand smoke or "passive smoke" also harm family members, coworkers, and others around smokers. There are a number of techniques available to assist people who want to quit smoking.
Patients who have infrequent, mild bouts of asthma attacks may use over-the-counter (OTC) medications to treat their asthma symptoms. OTC asthma medicines are limited to epinephrine and ephedrine. These OTC drugs are best used with the guidance of a physician, as there may be side effects and the drugs may not be very effective.
Asthma, the main cause of chronic illness in children, has signs and symptoms in children that include frequent coughing spells, low energy while playing, complaints of chest "hurting," wheezing while breathing, shortness of breath, and feelings of tiredness. Treatment will involve a doctor creating an asthma action plan which will describe the use of asthma medications and when to seek emergency care for the child.
There are many unusual symptoms of asthma, including sighing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, chronic cough, recurrent walking pneumonia, and rapid breathing. These symptoms may vary from individual to individual. These asthma complexities make it difficult to accurately diagnose and treat asthma.
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