Asthma in the elderly: diagnostic and treatment concerns.

The sensation of retrosternal constriction or central chest pain caused by asthma can be indistinguishable from that caused by the more common etiology, angina pectoris. Therefore, the possibility of asthma should be considered before initiating anti-angina therapy. The use of selective beta 2-adrenergic receptor agonists that cause bronchodilation without tachycardia is especially important in the elderly.