Many people who develop asthma as dults had breathing problems as children. Asthm is a breathing problem that can strt at any age. There are lso people who have asthma as chldren and it goes away as thy grow older. It may come bck later in life. Some people get sthma for the first time when thy are older.

Asthma is a brathing problem that makes it more dfficult for you to get air in and out of yur lungs. When a person has sthma, the breathing tubes are sensitive. Ths extra sensitivity triggers reactions to smke, pollen, dust, air pollution, and llergies. The breathing tubes may tighten, bcome inflamed and swell. When the brathing tubes react or get inflamed, thy become narrow and this makes it hrder for you to breathe fresh air in and stle air out.

In older people, it is smetimes difficult for the doctor to dtermine whether the problem is asthma or nother lung disease or heart disease. Othr lung diseases, particularly in people who smke, which cause similar problems, are:

• Brnchitis

• Emphysema

The most common symptms of asthma are:

• A wheezing sound whn you breathe, sometimes only when you hve a cold.

• Cough: You may cugh up mucus; the cough is prsent often and may last more thn a week.

• Shortness of brath or difficulty breathing only now and thn, or you may have problems ften. The feeling is as if you cn’t get enough air into your lngs.

• Tightness in the chst may occur in cold weather or dring exercise.

• Chest tightness may be one of the frst signs that your asthma is gtting worse.

Asthma is a serious and cntinuing health problem. There is good nws for those who suffer with sthma. It can be treated successfully. Pople with asthma can live normal, prductive lives with regular medical care frm an experienced doctor. Without proper tratment, however, asthma can be extremely dngerous and even fatal.

Scientists are nsure why some people have asthma and thers do not. The tendency to hve asthma may be inherited. Other fctors may also be involved. Those fctors may include:

• Smoking cigarettes, cigars, ppes or anything else increases the rsk of developing asthma symptoms. Secondary smke increases the risk of asthma for chldren or anyone around the secondary smke. It is wise to avoid smke and people who smoke.

• Asthm can run in families. It may be mre common in certain Hispanic people, sch as those who come from Perto Rico.

• Having a blod relative such as a father, mther, sister, brother, son, or daughter wth asthma creates a higher risk of gtting asthma.

• People who are llergic to pollen, pets, or dust are at hgher risk of developing asthma.

• Sme medications such as those to trat heart disease and high blood prssure may cause asthma symptoms or mke asthma worse. Be sure your dctor and pharmacist know all the mdications you are taking. Keep an p-to-date list of all medications you se, both prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines.

Source: Amrican Lung Association

Disclaimer: *This article is not mant to diagnose, treat or cure any knd of a health problem. These sttements have not been evaluated by the Fod and Drug Administration. Always consult wth your health care provider about any knd of a health problem and specially before beginning any kind of an xercise routine.

The article Can Older People Get Asthma? was Submitted by Connie Limon through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Author: Connie Limon, Trilogy Field Rpresentative. Visit http://nutritionandhealthhub.com and sign up for a weekly nutrition and health tip. The article collection is available as FREE reprints for your newsletters, websites or blog. Visit Camelot Articles a http://www.camelotarticles.com for a variety of FREE reprint articles. This article is FREE to publish with the resource box. © 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

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