Asthma is a serious concern for seniors. Up to ten percent of seniors may have asthma. In some locations, the number of hospitalizations due to asthma is higher for seniors than for any other age group. Managing asthma in seniors provides some unique challenges for physicians.

Diagnosing asthma in an elderly patient can be challenging for physicians since asthma symptoms may mimic symptoms of other health conditions. Congestive heart failure, other heart conditions, and pulmonary hypertension can produce asthma-like symptoms. Some medications for other conditions may also be aggravating the asthma and be causing the symptoms.

A doctor needs to take a highly individualized approach in deciphering the symptoms and treating asthma if the symptoms are due to asthma. Senior asthma patients require care when asthma medications are prescribed to ensure that none will interact with other medications the senior patient is taking for other conditions.

Some asthma medicines, such as asthma inhalers, may cause difficulty for seniors. If a senior has arthritis or decreased hand strength, they may have some difficulty operating some asthma inhalers. Asthma inhalers may require more breathing capacity than some seniors can provide, especially during an asthma attack. Dry powder inhalers can require some force to inhale the asthma medicines. Seniors may also have difficulty using metered dose inhalers.

A spacer may be used with a metered dose inhaler to make it easier for seniors. Spacers are a plastic chamber that fits onto the mouthpiece of the inhaler. The asthma medicine is held briefly in the air of the chamber so the asthma patient can inhale the asthma medicine more slowly than normally required. Spacers cannot be used with dry powder inhalers.

Another potential complication of asthma inhaler use for seniors is an inability to read the tiny asthma counter displays. An asthma counter indicates how many more doses of the asthma medicine is still available in the inhaler’s canister. At least one hospitalization is due to a senior not being able to accurately read the tiny display.

When devising a plan for asthma treatment for seniors, doctors may need to decrease the usual expectations for lung function for asthma patients. Senior asthma patients may not be able to achieve the lung function of a younger asthma patient. Lung function capability tends to decrease with advanced age. The goal for asthma treatment for seniors is to decrease any asthma symptoms and allow for the senior to maintain an active, healthy lifestyle.