Asthma And Older People

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Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

Asthma is an illness that affects the ability of people to use their respiratory system to the fullest. People with asthma experience wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath and a decreased ability to exercise.

Asthma isn’t just a disease of childhood though; asthma and older people occurs more frequently than you might think. It affects people of all ages. The classic symptoms of coughing, wheezing, breathlessness and tightness in the chest can easily be misinterpreted as part of the normal aging process. These symptoms can also be misdiagnosed as other health problems in older adults. Older people may also not report the symptoms because they believe they are part of another illness or the normal aging process.

There are conditions that older people experience that have symptoms in common with asthma. These conditions include chronic obstructive lung (pulmonary) disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis, tuberculosis, gastro-esophageal reflux or cardiac disease such as congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) or abnormal heart rhythm.

Triggers for asthma and older people can also be different from those that trigger children. In older adults a viral infection, such as a cold or flu, and airborne allergens are the most common triggers. Medications also can act as triggers. For example, aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, beta blockers used to treat hypertension and eye drops used to treat glaucoma all have side effects that include triggers of asthma and older people.

Asthma and older people also carries with it different complications than those in childhood. The lung structure and function that changes with age will also make the associated problems with asthma worse. As people age they are also more susceptible to the side effects of the medications they use to treat the disease. Problems with coordination or arthritis may impact their use of inhalers and other delivery systems. Often when asthma and older people is first diagnosed at 60 or older the sufferer also has other chronic illnesses. which interferes with the treatment of asthma.

One of the triggers to asthma and older people is the flu. This is why it is so important for people over 55 to have an influenza shot each fall and include a pneumococcal vaccination as they reach 60. The elderly may also have a decreased perception of the need for air. In other words when they are beginning to have an asthmatic attack they may not perceive the difficulty since they aren’t as active and the attack may progress more quickly. It is important for the sufferer with asthma and older people to use a peak flow meter consistently to evaluate the progression of their condition.

Some asthma and older people are unable to tolerate a more aggressive therapeutic approach to treatment and their illness is more difficult to control because of this. They may be plagued with night coughs and constant dry coughing during the day.

Most asthma and older people are able to control their disease but only through careful examination and consistent treatment will they find control and decreased side effects to the medication.

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