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Can You Develop Asthma Later In Life? Know What May Put You At Risk

Can You Develop Asthma Later In Life?

Asthma is a long-term condition that affects the airways of the lungs, leading to swelling and inflammation and producing extra mucus.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), asthma is the most common chronic disease among children, leading to symptoms such as cough, wheeze, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. However, it can also affect adults and cause similar symptoms.

Describing it as adult-onset asthma, Dr Bhalotra shared that several factors can trigger its onset, including prolonged exposure to environmental pollution, industrial fumes, gases, and organic or inorganic dust. These irritants can cause persistent airway inflammation, eventually leading to asthma.

Hormonal changes, particularly during pre- and post-menopause, can also contribute to asthma development in later years, he noted. While hormones themselves may not directly cause asthma, they can influence factors like weight gain, airway hypersensitivity, and emotional stress, which may exacerbate respiratory issues.

Individuals with pre-existing allergic conditions—such as rhinitis, sinusitis, or skin allergies—are also at higher risk. When these allergies extend to the airways, they can lead to bronchial hyperresponsiveness, a classic indication of asthma. Patients may experience intermittent breathlessness and wheezing, triggered by environmental allergens or irritants.

As of now, The Global Asthma Report suggests that the global prevalence of asthma is 9.1% among children, 11.0% among adolescents, and 6.6% among adults.

Early Signs Of Adult-Onset Asthma

The key indicator of adult-onset asthma is the sudden appearance of symptoms, such as breathlessness, wheezing, and chest tightness, in individuals who had no history of asthma in childhood. These symptoms often wax and wane, sometimes resolving on their own before flaring up again.

However, it's important to rule out other conditions that may mimic asthma, such as:

According to Dr Bhalotra, misdiagnosis is possible, so a thorough medical evaluation is necessary.

Also Read: How To Distinguish And Manage Nocturnal Asthma And Sleep Apnoea

The Role Of Lifestyle In Asthma Prevention

Prevention is always better than cure, emphasised Dr Bhalotra, adding that adopting a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet and regular exercise, plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of chronic diseases, including asthma.

Managing exposure to allergens and environmental pollutants is equally important in preventing respiratory conditions, he concluded.

Explained: What Is A Bronchial Spasm, The Condition Behind Pope Francis's Breathing Scare

Pope Francis was back to sipping coffee and reading newspapers on Saturday, just hours after a serious health scare that interrupted his recovery from double pneumonia. The 87-year-old pontiff suffered a severe coughing fit on Friday afternoon, during which he accidentally inhaled vomit, triggering a bronchial spasm - a sudden tightening of the airways that can make breathing difficult or even impossible without medical intervention. Doctors had to place him on a noninvasive mechanical ventilation to help stabilize his breathing.In the late Friday update, the Vatican said Francis suffered an "isolated crisis of bronchial spasm," which resulted in a "sudden worsening of the respiratory picture."

The team of doctors said it would take a couple of days to assess the impact of Friday afternoon's episode on the pontiff's condition.

The pope responded well to treatment, remaining conscious and alert throughout the episode. According to the Vatican, he maintained good oxygen levels and continued to wear a mask to receive supplemental oxygen.

What is bronchial spasm? Bronchial spasms are uncomfortable, frightening, and can make breathing extremely difficult for the person suffering from it. A bronchospasm happens when the muscles surrounding the airways known as the bronchi, which connect the windpipe to the lungs, suddenly tighten. This causes the airways to narrow, restricting the flow of oxygen into the lungs and making it harder to breathe. This also results in wheezing, coughing, and other symptoms.Bronchospasm are associated with conditions like asthma, emphysema, COPD and lung infections.

Symptoms of bronchial spasm The symptoms may trigger suddenly and people may struggle to catch their breath.One may also experience tightness in chest, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, tiredness, and dizziness.

Common triggers While asthma is the most common triggers of bronchial spasm, a bacterial, viral or fungal infections of the lungs or airways, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), dust, pollen, pet dander and other allergens can also cause it.Exercise-induced bronchospasm are also common. It is caused by the loss of heat, water or both from the airways during exercise when quickly breathing in air that is drier than what is already in the body.Symptoms typically appear within a few minutes after you start exercising and may continue for 10 to 15 minutes after you finish your workout.Chemical fumes or other irritants (such as perfumes) can also cause these spasms.Cold temperatures, smoking or vaping, general anesthesia used in surgery are other causes.Experiencing a severe, or distressing bronchospasms is an emergency situation and one must contact their healthcare expert. If airflow is extremely compromised, emergency department should be reached.

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This May Be The Real Reason You Have Asthma, Doctors Say

Genes are responsible for a lot, like whether you get your mom's eyes, your dad's nose or your grandma's curls. Genetic factors can also increase your odds of developing certain medical conditions, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer and heart disease. Is asthma one of them too?

Like many health conditions, asthma has a genetic component. If one of your parents has asthma, you're more likely to develop it — even in adulthood — and potentially pass it along to your children.

Asthma tends to run in families, says Dr. Manav Singla, an allergist and immunologist at MedStar Health in Baltimore: "Having a parent with asthma increases the child's risk by three to six times than that of the general population."

While asthma is typically diagnosed in childhood, adults can develop the condition, and adult-onset asthma is more common among women, says Dr. Yasmin Hamzavi, an allergist and immunologist at AllerVie Health.

"Often, patients have a family history of asthma, and when you start speaking with them, you find that their symptoms are following the same patterns as their family members may have followed," Singla says.

So, if you notice you're starting to experience coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath, it's a good idea to talk to an allergist for a potential asthma diagnosis and treatment plan, Hamzavi says.

Curious about why asthma runs in families? Allergists explain what you should know.

Family history and asthma

The family history-asthma connection is related to several factors, according to Singla.

Asthma is considered a genetic disease that can be inherited from your parents, he explains, but it isn't exactly cut-and-dried: "It's a complex genetic disease, meaning it is not caused by just one gene but a variety of different ones. This makes it harder to predict which kids will inherit it."

Unlike certain medical conditions in which only one parent can be a "carrier," asthma can be passed down through families, both through the mother's and father's sides, so both parents can contribute to their child having asthma.

Genes can also affect immune responses to allergens and someone's susceptibility to developing asthma, says Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network. Genes can influence airway inflammation and lung structure, which might also raise your asthma risk, as well.

Hamzavi also points out that families also usually live in shared environments and engage in the same behaviors, which can increase their collective exposure to triggers and raise their risk for asthma.

"If you were raised by your parents who have asthma, you may have experienced some of the same environmental factors, such as pollen and diesel particle exposure," Singla says.

Other risk factors

Genetics alone doesn't cause asthma. Hamzavi says it's often a combination of factors, including family history, environment and lifestyle — all elements that can also worsen asthma.

Environmental factors can include exposure to air pollution; allergens, like pollen, dust mites and pet dander; as well as to fumes or dust in the workplace, Dr. Singh explains. All of these, plus other factors like smoking, obesity and a history of respiratory infections like flu or RSV, might also cause someone to develop asthma.

Having allergies is a risk factor, especially if one of your parents has allergies, Parikh advises. Some allergic conditions, like eczema and hay fever, are particularly connected to people with asthma, according to the American Lung Association.

Your sex assigned at birth is another factor, Hamzavi says, explaining that women are more likely to be diagnosed with asthma during adolescence and adulthood, while boys experience higher rates in childhood. Hormonal shifts, such as during puberty, pregnancy or menopause, may heighten symptoms for some patients.

Hamzavi adds: "For women with multiple risk factors, such as genetics combined with exposure to allergens or pollutants, addressing these factors can significantly reduce the likelihood of developing symptoms or flare-ups."

It's common to be diagnosed with asthma later in life, Singla says. "I find that many adults with newly diagnosed asthma actually had asthma as children, but perhaps it then went into remission, was not recognized in the first place or became worse as they got older," he explains.

If you're just starting to notice asthma symptoms, talk to your doctor, who may refer you to an allergist to help get you on the best treatment plan.

Minimizing symptoms

If asthma runs in your family, you might not be able to avoid it altogether. However, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America suggests a few ways to manage symptoms:

— Identify and avoid your asthma triggers: Learning what causes your asthma symptoms, such as pets or dust, and taking steps to avoid them will minimize flare-ups.

— Take your asthma medication as prescribed: If you're prescribed asthma medications, take them exactly as prescribed by your doctor — and always try to keep your inhaler on hand in case you need it.

— Know the signs of an asthma attack and be prepared for if one happens: Often, people experience some type of warning before an asthma episode, such as coughing or chest tightness. Recognizing these symptoms is crucial. You may also need to keep a peak flow monitor handy. These devices can detect narrowing in your airways before you feel symptoms.

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