Asthma Doesn’t Hit Us All Equally: Learn About the Complications of Aging with Asthma

It is no surprise that different people with asthma have different degrees of issues related to their asthma. However, what is surprising to some people is the fact that it now appears that there may be a serious difference between a youth with asthma compared to an elderly person with asthma. Keep reading to find out more. If you suffer from this condition then we recommend you contact an asthma specialist at 805-658-9500 to make sure you are being properly treated.

A new report has brought news

The report in question was published in The Lancet and it has shown that older people with asthma are five times as likely to die from asthma compared to younger people with asthma. This is already bad news, but when you consider that the number of older people with asthma is on the rise, it is even more devastating news. There are no clear numbers regarding just how fast this issue is growing among the elderly but studies show that somewhere around 9% of older adults have asthma.

Why is asthma harder on older adults compared to younger adults?

First of all, it is simply harder for a person to breathe as they get older – even if they do not have asthma. This is the result of the fact that the lungs’ elasticity diminishes as a person ages, tied to the fact that the muscles of the respiratory systems weaken. Together, these issues can make normal issues of asthma even worse.

Second, consider that the immune system gets weaker as a person ages. The result is that an older person is more likely to get an infection that can trigger an asthma attack. Just as it is true that the body responds differently to inflammation as it ages, steroids could work for a person with asthma when they are younger and then those same steroids may not work as they get older.

The one issue that most complicates asthma diagnoses

The review pointed out that about 50% of older adults who have asthma are not properly diagnosed. This means that they cannot get the asthma treatment they need and they cannot take steps to prevent potentially life-threatening complications. Doctors and patients both often blame the symptoms of asthma on other medical conditions. One example is that a doctor may blame a person being out of break on the fact that they are overweight instead of considering the possibility that they have asthma.

If you have reason to believe you have asthma then we strongly recommend you talk to a professional as soon as possible. If you trust your general practitioner to take your case seriously and offer you the testing you need then that may be a good bet. However, you will likely be better off working with specialists at Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Medical Group. Contact us at 805-658-9500 to make an appointment.