Anyone not currently being treated for or experiencing asthma symptoms is eligible to join the Army (as long as they aren't excluded for any other reason). However, if you've had asthma at any time after turning 13, you'll need to pass a pulmonary function test and prove that you're fit for duty.
Asthma can be a disqualifying condition that prohibits military service. If your symptoms are mild, you may be able to obtain a waiver that can allow you to join. This can involve passing one or more tests of respiratory strength, as well as completing a physical examination.
Candidates with mild asthma may be considered for entry to the ADF subject to certain criteria which includes normal spirometry and negative bronchial provocation testing. If a candidate with asthma is assessed as fit to enter the ADF, they will need to present to their GP before entry to ensure they are prepared.
Asthma (493), including reactive airway disease, exercise-induced bronchospasm or asthmatic bronchitis, reliably diagnosed and symptomatic after the 13th birthday is disqualifying.
Asthma, only if requiring treatment after a recruit's 13th birthday, may disqualify an individual from serving. This is a change from the military's previous disqualification of all candidates with any history of asthma. If the individual carries an inhaler, he or she is likely to be disqualified.
20 Health Conditions That May Not Allow You To Join The Military. There are many specific medical conditions that may disqualify you from joining the U.S. Military. These include conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, epilepsy, heart issues, Asperger's, and PTSD.
It's common for kids to appear to have outgrown asthma by the time they enter school. But experts have studied the condition enough to now know that we don't really outgrow asthma. In fact, once you have asthma, you have it the rest of your life.
Asthma cannot be cured completely, no, but it can be controlled to the point that the symptoms become negligible. As a chronic and lasting condition, asthma is not curable. It is highly treatable, though, so long as a patient has professional support.
Enlisting with asthma
People who currently have symptoms of asthma are immediately disqualified. According to the Army Medical Department, an asthma evaluation will look for evidence of persistent cough, wheezing, chest tightness, or shortness of breath that persists for more than 12 months.
'Seasonal' asthma. Occupational asthma. Non-allergic asthma. 'Exercise-induced' asthma.
If you use too much
If you use your inhaler too much, you may notice that your heart beats more quickly than normal and that you feel shaky. These side effects are not dangerous, as long as you do not also have chest pain. They usually go away within 30 minutes or a few hours at most.
Most victims of asthma death are in the age group of 80–84 years [Figure 1]. About 10,470 years was lost due to asthma in the 10-year period of our study (M/F ratio: 1.3). Average YLL for each death due to asthma was 18.6 years.
Henry Hyde Salter (himself suffering from asthma) wrote, in 1860, that the natural history of asthma is that while very young patients tend to recover and are at low risk of death, in those older than 45 years there is a progressive worsening of the disease, increasing the risk of death [2].
The short answer...
No, asthma cannot be cured. Some children with asthma will outgrow it by adulthood. But, for many, asthma is a lifelong condition.
The reasons the Army won't accept you are numerous; they include age and weight restrictions, medical and criminal histories, and even certain tattoos, according to the team at We Are the Mighty. Similar reasons exist for the other branches, as well.
What can disqualify you at MEPS? Any disqualifications that appear during your MEPS physical exam or interview may prevent you from joining the Army. These disqualifications can include illegal drug use, alcohol dependence, not meeting height/weight requirements, having certain contagious diseases, among others.
The ideal height requirement for men in the military is between 60-80 inches / 152-203 cm. Anyone above or below this requirement is likely to get rejected.
As we get older, asthma attacks can be more severe and take longer to recover from. Talk through your asthma action plan with your GP or asthma nurse so you know exactly what you need to do and who you need to call when symptoms flare up.
Physical activity can be more difficult when you have asthma. But in fact, regularly getting your heart rate up through exercise can actually improve your asthma symptoms by: improving your lung function, helping you control your asthma.
On average, 11 people in the U.S. die from asthma each day. In 2020, 4,145 people died from asthma. Nearly all of these deaths are avoidable with the right treatment and care.
Severe Persistent Asthma. Severe persistent asthma is the most acute type of asthma. Asthma patients at this stage will experience symptoms the entire day.
Constant exposure to the inhaler could lead to your lungs to become under-responsive to the medication, and your airways could become hypersensitive to common asthma triggers.
Difficulty breathing: In rare cases, albuterol can make breathing problems worse. This is called paradoxical bronchospasm, which makes wheezing and coughing worse as a result of the drug. Heart problems, including a pounding or racing heart or irregular heartbeat.