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Sunday, September 15, 2013

New onset Asthma in middle age


Can I develop asthma at the age of 67? I have never smoked and worked in an office all my life. I only have high blood pressure, which is well controlled. On a recent visit to my doctor, he told me I had developed asthma because of the chronic cough that I have had.
The majority of asthma cases are diagnosed in childhood or in the early teenager years. When one develops new onset asthma and a cough, this is a cause for concern. It is unlikely that one can have asthma out of the blue in the later years of life if the past medical history has been uneventful. Moreover, if you do not smoke or have no chemical related work history, then you definitely need more work up. The first thing to do is ask your doctor to get a chest x-ray and a referral to a lung specialist. Asthma may be related to the heart but this can easily be ruled out by obtaining an x-ray. If your doctor does not intend to work you up more thoroughly, you need a new doctor. At your age, something more ominous should always be ruled out first.

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