Asthma can also strike as adults, this is the cause

Many people think that asthma must be suffered from childhood. So you may be thinking, "I don't think I might have had asthma as an adult." In fact, asthma can also attack a person for the first time in adulthood. What caused this?

What's the difference between having asthma as a child and as an adult?

Asthma as an adult is known asadult-onset asthma.This disease is often difficult to detect because as you get older, your lung capacity becomes lower.

With age, there is a change and flexibility of the walls of the chest cavity. That is why, your doctor may consider the problem of shortness of breath that you feel is normal. In fact, you may have adult-onset asthma.

When you had an asthma attack for the first time as an adult, you and those closest to you may have had doubts. For that, identify the following symptoms of an asthma attack:

• Coughing up, especially at night
• Difficulty breathing
• Breath sounds
• Panting
• The chest feels tight and sore, especially when you inhale

Why did I only develop asthma as an adult?

Until now, the cause of asthma is unknown. Although generally, asthma is detected in childhood, about 25% of people with asthma actually experience attacks for the first time as adults.

Here are some of the possible causes of new asthma when you are an adult:

1. Hormonal changes

Asthma in adults is known to be 20 percent more common in women than men who are over 35 years of age. Hormonal changes that occur in women are suspected to be one of the causes.

Hormonal changes such as during pregnancy can increase the risk of developing asthma. Even cases of asthma in people who have just been pregnant once can increase from 8% to 29% in women who have had four children.

In addition, reported from the Asthma UK website, as many as 1/3 of women reported experiencing asthma symptoms that worsened before or during menstruation. Asthma symptoms also get worse when a woman has entered the perimenopause (the period before menopause).

However, it is not certain how hormones affect the severity of asthma symptoms. It's possible that hormonal changes can increase the body's susceptibility to other asthma triggers, such as allergic rhinitis or the flu.

2. Obesity

Obesity is known to be one of the causes of shortness of breath as well as it is known to increase the risk adult-onset asthma. As many as 50 percent of people who are overweight and obese are known to have asthma as adults.

People with obesity have a lot of fat tissue. The increase in adipokines, which are hormones derived from fat tissue, will trigger inflammation of the upper respiratory tract in obese people.

Plus, obese people breathe less than the normal capacity of their lungs so that it will interfere with lung function. Not to mention the difficulty of breathing during sleep and GERD, aka acid reflux, which is very closely related to asthma, can occur due to obesity.

3. Exposure to certain substances at work

Some people may work in places where they are exposed to certain substances. People who work in factories are often exposed to chemicals.

Those who work in the contracting field may often be exposed to sawdust or cement. All that they get over a long period of time and continuously.

According to the journal Australian Family Physician, as many as 20-25% of adults with asthma report that they have a bad workplace. Usually, their asthma will subside when they are not at work. However, the symptoms will continue to get worse as long as the work environment remains the same.

4. Air pollution

Air pollution that is often found in a person's environment, such as cigarette smoke, chemicals such as exhaust fumes, and dust can also trigger asthma in adults.

Secondhand smoke, whether you are active or passive, and environmental pollution can increase your risk of developing asthma in adulthood. Cigarette smoke is known to be a risk factor for asthma, not only adults, but also children aged 7-33 years.

5. Medicines

Although useful for improving health conditions, some medicines can actually cause asthma symptoms to worsen. Aspirin and beta-blockers are examples. In fact, in some cases paracetamol can also trigger asthma.

6. Upper respiratory tract disease

Rhinitis is a disease known to cause asthma in adults. Actually, it is not known what causes it, but a study shows the two diseases are related. Polyps in the nasal passages are also known to play a role adult-onset asthma.

7. Respiratory tract infections

Respiratory tract infections also play a significant role in causing asthma in adults. A severe flu infection can also trigger this condition. This is most likely caused by a decline in the body's immune system due to age, making it more susceptible to infection, especially respiratory infections.

8. Stress

A stressful state of mind can also trigger asthma. Several studies have shown that people with high levels of stress are two to three times more likely to trigger it adult-onset asthma.

The type of stress that is strongly indicated as a trigger for asthma in adults is family problems, marital problems, divorce, or conflicts with superiors. People with jobs that have high stress levels have a 50% potential to have this condition. Stress is known to have been shown to change a person's health conditions, including asthma.

Overcoming and treating asthma as an adult

Asthma symptoms can be controlled and relieved. However, no specific drug or treatment has been found to cure asthma completely. The most important thing when you have it adult-onset asthma is finding out what triggered it. Make sure you stay away from the trigger.

Consult your doctor directly to treat asthma as an adult. You may need special drugs to treat asthma attacks. Asthma medications are available in tablet, syrup, and inhaled forms. Usually you will be given anti-inflammatory drugs from steroids to expedite your respiratory system.

To prevent recurring asthma, you will need to make some adjustments at home and at work. The residence and workplaces should be cleaned regularly to prevent the build-up of dust and fine materials in the air. Make sure you get enough rest and start living a healthy lifestyle, for example by doing special exercises for asthma and maintaining a balanced diet.