What Causes Asthma in Adults?
While asthma is known as a childhood disease, it is not uncommon to find asthma in adults. Known as “adult onset asthma,” many adults struggle with moderate to severe asthma symptoms.
What makes this even more worrisome is that adult asthma is often more severe than childhood asthma, and may correspond with a natural decrease in lung function that occurs as you age, making it harder to diagnose.
Potential Asthma Causes
No one knows the exact cause of asthma in adults or children. There are simply theories and known triggers which may contribute to their prevalence. Some of the most widely believed causes of asthma include:
- Pregnancy
During pregnancy, women experience several hormonal changes. It is believed that some of these hormonal changes may put you at risk for developing adult onset asthma. Menopause or damage to one of your glands may also increase this risk.
- Inhalation of Chemicals, Pollution or Irritants
Another potential cause of asthma in adults is the constant inhalation of chemicals and dangerous particles in the environment. Chemicals, mold, and other irritants float around in the air and are consistently breathed in. It is possible that these particles cause or contribute to the development of asthma symptoms.
Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are also known to be triggers, which is why it is especially important to avoid rooms or enclosed spaces where smoking occurs. Adult asthma also seems to be more common in urban areas where the air is less clean, indicating that pollution may be playing a significant role.
- Allergies
It is widely believed that allergies are a common cause or trigger of asthma problems. Adults that have allergies may experience the creation or worsening of symptoms over time. Common allergies include dust, pet dander, pollen and dust mites.
- Illness
Illnesses that affect your lungs also show a correlation with the development of asthma. Researchers have found that adults sometimes get asthma after suffering from cold and flu symptoms, or other diseases that affect the lungs or the surrounding areas.
- Heredity
Evidence suggests that the ability to develop asthma might be genetic. While it is not yet known if development of asthma is due to genes, it is possible that a combination of genes and environmental factors lead to asthma symptoms.
Asthma Causes and Triggers
Scientists are unclear as to whether or not the above list constitutes everything that causes asthma in adults, puts adults at more risk for developing asthma, or simply triggers asthma problems when they are already there. Those that have experienced asthma are advised to avoid the above triggers as best as possible, because pollution, smoke, allergens, and other irritants all contribute to a worsening of asthma symptoms.
Asthma has no cure, and adults are unlikely to grow out of adult onset asthma. Subsequently, managing the disease is very important, especially because the natural decrease in lung function as you age can make asthma even more dangerous. Regardless of the cause of your asthma, you should always avoid smoke, pollution, allergens, chemicals, mold, and illness. That is the only way you will experience fewer symptoms as you age.