One of the ways in which asthma is recognized among younger persons is by the symptoms of wheezing and breathing problems during and after exercise. But if a patient rarely exercises, the opportunity for asthma to produce these symptoms may rarely arise. Treatment of asthma in older adults can be complicated by the fact that so many older persons take multiple medications for other health problems. Asthma medications can react with these other treatments, causing unpleasant side effects. In addition, other medications may worsen asthma symptoms.
Older patients are more likely than younger patients to have mental confusion and memory problems.
This may be the result of normal aging or of an illness such as Alzheimer's disease. Whatever the cause, these problems can make it hard for an older patient to follow treatment instructions. This can be especially true if, like many older persons, the patient receives several types of medications for different health problems. In addition, many asthma medications come in the form of an inhaler. Using an inhaler requires a certain degree of coordination and dexterity.