Most people think of asthma as a childhood disease, but adult onset asthma is surprisingly common. Many people can develop symptoms when they’re well into middle age. Often initially misdiagnosed as recurrent bronchitis, adult onset asthma is possibly related to allergies or exposure to pollutants in the home or at work. It is more likely to afflict women than men.

Because adults tend to have a lower lung capacity after middle age as a result of changes in muscles and the stiffening of chest walls, doctors sometimes miss asthma as a diagnosis and attribute symptoms to age. And while symptoms in childhood tend to come and go, adults often suffer continuously.

Among those more likely to get asthma as an adult are women who are experiencing hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or menopause; people with allergies, especially to cats; the obese; and those who are regularly exposed to environmental irritants, in the home or at work.
At what point should you begin to question if a cold that’s lasted a month or more might be something more serious? Symptoms range from minor to serious, but a combination of the following may suggest asthma: frequent coughing, especially at night; wheezing (a whistling noise during breathing); and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, which is a big tip-off.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, get an evaluation by an allergist or pulmonary specialist, which is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of lung conditions and diseases. They can do a series of tests to confirm the diagnosis and can place you on a good asthma control regimen depending on the severity of your symptoms.