Get Real About Adult Asthma

› By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D.

Asthma’s not just for kids. More and more adults are developing this lung-damaging condition that steals your breath, zaps your energy and can even threaten your life. Trouble is, warning signs of adult asthma are tough to spot.

Nearly one in 13 American adults has this breathing problem, and there’s evidence that even more are living with it. For half, it kicks up in adulthood, sometimes without the classic symptoms like wheezing and shortness of breath. A stubborn cough, sleep problems and chest pain are red flags missed by 35 to 49 percent of people in a brand-new poll from Colorado’s respected respiratory health center, National Jewish Health.

Asthma sends millions of people to the emergency room and kills thousands each year. Here’s what you need to know about spotting and easing this grown-up breathing problem.

Adult asthma’s got grown-up triggers. Lung irritants such as tobacco smoke and airborne chemicals like oil fragrances and air fresheners can set off adult asthma. So can inflammation from lung infections like pneumonia or chronic sinus problems, along with factors you might not associate with your lungs, including emotional stress, extra pounds and chronic sinus problems.

You and your doctor might overlook it. That agerelated loss of muscle mass that begins in our 30s doesn’t just affect your abs and thighs. Lung muscles weaken, too, leading to a gradual drop in lung power. Breathing a little harder after a walk around the block, doing simple chores out in cold weather or when you’re around pets, pollen, dust, fumes, strong odors or tobacco smoke might seem like normal aging, but it could mask asthma. Same goes for breathing problems that wake you up at night.

Asthma management means medications (and more). If you are diagnosed, work with your doctor to create an asthma action plan; then stick to it. Adults are more likely than kids to get lax about controlling their asthma. An estimated 30 to 70 percent don’t use their meds the way their doc recommended, boosting risk for severe asthma attacks and trips to the ER. Know which meds to take when, including daily controllers and emergency rescue drugs. Keep tabs on lung capacity with home breathing checks, too.

Healthy meals and regular exercise can help, too. A diet packed with colorful fruits and vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids (from salmon, wild trout, walnuts, avocados) fuels the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory defenses that help keep your lungs strong. Take a daily, 30-minute walk (talk to your doc about the meds to take along if you have exerciseinduced asthma); in one recent study, aerobic exercise made asthma symptoms milder. Stress-soothing yoga also helps improve daily life for people with asthma.

Get tough about your triggers. Allergy-inducing irritants like pet dander, dust mites, pollen, mold spores, fumes from cleaning products and airfresheners (they’re really air blockers), and smoke from your neighbor’s cigars could all set off an asthma attack. But too often, adults with asthma aren’t sure what sets off their symptoms. ID your personal triggers (an allergist can help); then steer clear.