Adult-onset asthma is defined as asthma symptoms that emerge and are diagnosed in people over the age of 20. Around half of the persons with asthma also suffer from allergies. Adult-onset asthma can also be caused by common irritants in the job (referred to as occupational asthma) or in the home, and the symptoms appear unexpectedly.
Asthma is a lung disease that manifests itself in a variety of ways. The following substances can be found in the airways:
- Swelling or inflammation, specifically in the linings of the air passage
- Large amounts of thicker-than-normal mucus are produced.
- Muscle contractions surrounding the airways produce narrowing.
Signs of asthma
- You’re out of breath
- Coughing on a regular basis, especially at night
- suffocating (a whistling noise during breathing)
- Breathing problems
- Tightness in the chest
Diagnosis of asthma
Understanding the medical history of the patient also includes.
- A spirometer is used to assess how much air you can exhale after first taking a deep breath and how quickly you can empty your lungs during a lung function test. You may be requested to take a short-acting bronchodilator before or after the test (medicine that opens the airways by relaxing tight muscles and also helps clear mucus from the lungs).
- Performing a methacholine challenge test; if your symptoms and spirometry test do not clearly demonstrate asthma, this asthma test may be conducted. If you have asthma, methacholine causes your airways to spasm and narrow when you inhale it.
- You breathe increasing volumes of methacholine aerosol mist before and after spirometry during this test. If the lung function reduces by at least 20%, the methacholine test is considered positive, indicating the presence of asthma. Reach out to an asthma specialist in Coimbatore to save yourself from asthma complications.
Treatment of adult asthma
Asthma can be managed, but there is no cure for asthma. However, there are some objectives in asthma treatment. If you can’t accomplish all of these objectives, your asthma is out of control. If you need assistance with asthma, you should contact your asthma care provider.
The following are some of the treatment objectives:
- Maintain an active and normal lifestyle.
- Prevent the onset of chronic and bothersome symptoms.
- Attend work or school on a daily basis and carry out everyday tasks without trouble
- To treat asthma with minimal or no adverse effects, use and adapt medications.
In addition to avoiding triggers and monitoring daily asthma symptoms, the use of asthma medication as prescribed by your asthma doctor is the basis of successful asthma control.
Bronchodilators:
The muscle bands that tighten around the airways are relaxed by these drugs. This motion opens the airways quickly, allowing more air to enter and exit the lungs and enhancing breathing. Exercise-induced asthma symptoms can be treated with both short-acting and long-acting beta-agonists.
Asthma drugs
Can be inhaled (using a metered-dose inhaler, dry powder inhaler, or asthma nebulizer) or swallowed (using an asthma nebulizer) (pills or liquids). If you’re taking prescriptions for other ailments, you should check with your doctor to see if there are any drug interactions and, if possible, simplify your medications.
Monitoring asthma
Keeping track of how effectively the lungs are working is a crucial element of treatment. A peak flow meter is used to track asthma symptoms. The meter can detect changes in your airways that could indicate that your asthma is getting worse. You can learn when to change drugs to keep asthma under control by recording daily peak flow data. This information can also be used by your asthma doctor to make changes to your severe asthma treatment.
When and how to take asthma medications, what to do if asthma worsens, and when to seek medical help for an asthma emergency are all covered in the asthma action plan. Check to see whether you understand the plan; if you don’t, ask your asthma care provider any questions you have.
