Dr. Sunil Pammi is a pulmonary critical care specialist with Lee Memorial Health System. He says, “We think of asthma, as someone who gets it when they are at a younger age. Adult onset asthma is basically asthma that develops after the age of 20.”

Dr. Pammi treats many patients who develop asthma as adults. In most cases they begin to notice classic symptoms. “We usually see shortness of breath. They can cough and they can wheeze, wheezing is sort of a whistling noise every time they take a breath. Sometimes it catches people by surprise and they don’t really understand what’s happening.”

But there are certain things that can predispose you to developing adult onset asthma. “If you’re obese, if you have allergies especially to pets and cats, if you have that type of allergy you are more predisposed to it. Your occupation can predispose it to you, you’re environmental factors can predispose it to you.”

While adult onset asthma is considered to be a long-term condition, there are ways to manage the symptoms. “The good news is we can get people well controlled with the medications that are on the market right now. People can actually live their normal life and not be restricted at all. That’s our goal with treatment,” says Dr. Pammi.

Many conditions can mimic symptoms of asthma so it’s important to see a physician or pulmonary specialist to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment. Asthma accounts for about 24-million missed days of work for adults each year.