Adult-Onset Asthma
Adult-onset asthma is typically defined as the onset of
asthma in someone of age twenty or older. There are many
factors that can lead to the development of asthma-related
symptoms in adults, even if they have shown no signs during
childhood.
The incidence of asthma has risen dramatically in recent
years. In 1980, five million Americans were diagnosed as
suffering from asthma. In 2009, this number is closer to
twenty million due, in part, to rising levels of airborne
pollutants and ozone.
Adult-Onset Asthma Symptoms
How is your
breathing?
Proper breathing technique uses the
diaphragm to expand the belly. Asthma sufferers tend to breathe
from the chest, raising their shoulders as they inhale.
Do you wheeze as you
breathe?
Wheezing is usually a sign of
inflammation, the narrowing of the airway, or the excess
production of mucus. All these are indicators of
an asthmatic condition.
Do you need more than one breath
to finish a sentence when speaking?
Many asthma sufferers cannot finish a
complete sentence before needing a breath.
Are you in
pain?
Asthma victims can have pain in the
abdomen, ribs, back, or chest due to their incorrect breathing
technique.
Do you suffer from frequent
bouts of anxiety?
Fear of suffocation results in most
asthmatics suffering from chronic anxiety.
Do you have a rapid
pulse?
A rapid pulse can be a sign of your body
responding to a lack of oxygen caused by constricted
airways. It can also result from the onset of an allergic
reaction, which also can lead to an asthmatic
condition.
Prescription Treatment Can Be Dangerous
Many doctors view asthma as nothing more
than a simple breathing problem caused by obstructed airways.
Treatment is typically in the form of adrenaline injections,
bronchodilators, and other prescription drugs.
However, treatment regimens of
adult-onset asthma that involve these stimulant-related
medications can have severe side effects including nausea,
headaches, and accelerated heartbeat syndrome. In addition,
these treatments do not effectively control the chronic
inflammatory process that is the root cause of the asthma
symptoms.
There are non-drug methods of
controlling and even curing adult-onset asthma. They
involve everything from proper breathing instruction
and dietary changes to environmental improvements that you
can make at home and in the office. It is certainly an
option to evaluate these programs before resorting to
potentially dangerous drug regimens.
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