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Asthma triggers in seniors
M ature Matters...
F E AT U R I N G T O P I C S F O R A D U LT S W I T H A S T H M A
Asthma Triggers in Seniors Richard W. Honsinger, Jr., MD, FAAAAI
Although some asthma patients “outgrow their asthma,” most do not. Some people even wait until their senior years to develop asthma. Common asthma triggers that affect younger people can also affect older people. If you have asthma, you should be aware of situations and exposures that trigger your asthma response. You may find that you wheeze and cough when you are exposed to a cat or a dog. Sometimes this symptom will appear a year or two after you have given the furry critter a home and fallen in love with it. If your asthma is worse at specific times of the year, it may be related to seasonal pollens. You might also note that you have difficulty when you cut grass or pull weeds. Dust mites and molds are common in humid environments and may bother you when you stir them up by vacuuming the overstuffed furniture or shaking the rug. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), that heartburn that comes after
eating a big meal before bed, can provoke asthma. Wearing a scarf over your face can help the asthma that comes from exposure to cold air in winter. Using your inhaled bronchodilator before you exercise can help asthma produced by exercise. As we age, infirmities also begin to bother us. Medications that are sometimes used to treat other diseases can provoke asthma. That strong beta-blocker eye drop that you take for glaucoma might enhance your asthma response. A betablocker or an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor you take for blood pressure can provoke a cough. The average age for the onset of aspirin-induced asthma is 46 years. The aspirin reaction can also be caused by other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen. Respiratory infections are a common trigger for asthma. Those slobbery kisses from a cute grandchild can be laden with germs. Some of those can’t be avoided, but at least you can be sure to get a flu shot every fall for some protection. Being aware of your asthma triggers can help you control your asthma. Your doctor can help you explore your asthma triggers, avoid them, and sometimes treat you before exposure. Referral to an allergist can help document causes of your asthma, as your allergist is an expert in identifying such triggers by history, exam, and allergy testing. Richard W. Honsinger, Jr., MD, FAAAAI, is a practicing allergist in Los Alamos, NM, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). Reprint orders: Elsevier Inc., 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146-3318; phone (314) 453-4350. doi 10.1016/j.asthmamag.2003.11.007
Mature Matters has been provided by
30
|
ASTHMA MAGAZINE
January/February 2004
F E AT U R I N G T O P I C S F O R A D U LT S W I T H A S T H M A
Asthma Triggers in Seniors Richard W. Honsinger, Jr., MD, FAAAAI
Although some asthma patients “outgrow their asthma,” most do not. Some people even wait until their senior years to develop asthma. Common asthma triggers that affect younger people can also affect older people. If you have asthma, you should be aware of situations and exposures that trigger your asthma response. You may find that you wheeze and cough when you are exposed to a cat or a dog. Sometimes this symptom will appear a year or two after you have given the furry critter a home and fallen in love with it. If your asthma is worse at specific times of the year, it may be related to seasonal pollens. You might also note that you have difficulty when you cut grass or pull weeds. Dust mites and molds are common in humid environments and may bother you when you stir them up by vacuuming the overstuffed furniture or shaking the rug. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), that heartburn that comes after
eating a big meal before bed, can provoke asthma. Wearing a scarf over your face can help the asthma that comes from exposure to cold air in winter. Using your inhaled bronchodilator before you exercise can help asthma produced by exercise. As we age, infirmities also begin to bother us. Medications that are sometimes used to treat other diseases can provoke asthma. That strong beta-blocker eye drop that you take for glaucoma might enhance your asthma response. A betablocker or an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor you take for blood pressure can provoke a cough. The average age for the onset of aspirin-induced asthma is 46 years. The aspirin reaction can also be caused by other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen. Respiratory infections are a common trigger for asthma. Those slobbery kisses from a cute grandchild can be laden with germs. Some of those can’t be avoided, but at least you can be sure to get a flu shot every fall for some protection. Being aware of your asthma triggers can help you control your asthma. Your doctor can help you explore your asthma triggers, avoid them, and sometimes treat you before exposure. Referral to an allergist can help document causes of your asthma, as your allergist is an expert in identifying such triggers by history, exam, and allergy testing. Richard W. Honsinger, Jr., MD, FAAAAI, is a practicing allergist in Los Alamos, NM, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI). Reprint orders: Elsevier Inc., 11830 Westline Industrial Dr., St. Louis, MO 63146-3318; phone (314) 453-4350. doi 10.1016/j.asthmamag.2003.11.007
Mature Matters has been provided by
30
|
ASTHMA MAGAZINE
January/February 2004