Asthma results from a breathing condition caused by swollen airways that constrict the passage of air. Common symptoms include dry cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing. It’s a common childhood condition, affecting over eight percent of children in the United States.
However, people of all ages develop asthma. Childhood asthma may disappear for good in adolescence for some people, while it reemerges for others. Asthma can be controlled, but it can’t be cured, so visiting an asthma specialist like Alpha Internal Medicine is your best choice for limiting the effects of the disease on your life.
While each patient may develop their own combination of asthma symptoms, the overall collection of symptoms and signs of the disease are common. The most frequently experienced effects include:
While the symptom pool is the same for children and adults, there are pattern differences. Persistent cough is often the first and only symptom before a child’s asthma diagnosis. You may find that coughing fits follow a pattern, such as during or after vigorous play, at night, or during cold weather. The cough may exist before your child has a cold or flu, and the respiratory infection makes the cough worse.
Children’s behavior may reveal asthma, too. They could display less energy or a tendency to avoid physical activity. Stopping to catch their breath after light activity could also be suspicious, and coughing may disrupt their sleep.
Wheezing is the classic symptom of asthma in children and when it’s combined with other symptoms, it’s time to bring your child in for diagnosis and treatment.
Childhood asthma symptoms are typically intermittent, emerging as asthma attacks, while adults tend to show persistent symptoms. Asthma that first shows in older patients may require daily control treatments, such as medications and inhalers.
Unlike childhood asthma, which affects more boys than girls, asthma starting after the age of 20 is more common in women than in men. About 30% of adults with asthma have the condition because of related allergies, and being obese increases your risk of developing asthma later in life. Asthma attacks are rarely fatal, but people over 65 are at greater risk.
There’s little difference between treatment of asthma in children and adults. Most asthmatics have a two-step plan. Effective control medications, combined with asthma trigger avoidance, help to prevent asthma attacks in the first place, while reducing attack severity when they happen. Combined with this long-term treatment strategy are quick-relief solutions, usually in the form of inhalers.
Devising an effective asthma control plan is crucial, no matter what the age of the patient. This may involve keeping a log of asthma attacks to identify possible triggers, factors that cause attacks, as well as pinpointing effective treatments, what to take, and when to take them.
Contact Alpha Internal Medicine to get the medical assistance you need to create your asthma plan. Call the office directly or request an appointment using the link on this page. Asthma relief is close at hand, so book your consultation now.
