Hi Draven,

Approximately 22 million people in America have asthma. More than 50% of the time it is diagnosed within the first decade of life but it may surface at any age. Asthma diagnosed after age forty is sometimes more difficult to treat.

That said, several years of smoking may cause irreversible changes in the lung. Sometimes symptoms suggestive of asthma occur months to years after smoking cessation. If the abnormal lung function is characterized by a reversible obstruction, asthma is at least part of the diagnosis. More than 20 years of smoking is often associated with the development of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Asthmatic bronchitis is thought to represent a combination of asthma and COPD.

A complete history, physical exam, lung function test (Pulmonary Function Test) and chest x-ray is often enough to make the diagnosis. The asthma component should respond to appropriate medications.

Often people gain weight after they stop smoking.

Your father should let his doctor know about any weight loss.

Yes, it is possible to have asthma diagnosed after smoking. Other possible problems should be considered related to his breathing difficulty and weight loss.

If your father does not respond to treatment a lung specialist or allergist may be helpful. If he is already under the care of a specialist and there is still concern, a second opinion from another specialist may be reasonable.