Do you have occupational asthma or the condition where your asthma is triggered or even worsen when you are in your office or job? You are not alone in this situation. More than 10 million workers are exposed to allergens agents in their work environment, based on data from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration. Occupational asthma or work asthma or workplace asthma related to job/work is about 15 % from all kind of asthma altogether. Are you one of them?
Occupational asthma symptoms
Symptoms are usually due to airways inflammation and spasms of the muscles lining the airways, which cause the muscles to narrow excessively. General asthma or occupational asthma symptoms are usually due to airway inflammation and crams of muscles lining the airway. This causes the muscles to narrow excessively and make difficult to breath. Bellow are specific symptoms related to work asthma, whether it is related to job or not:
- Having difficulties to breath or shortness of breath
- Chest pain or chest tightness
- Wheezing and coughing
You should watch for some signs which may associate with the occupational asthma like:
- Watery eyes or burning sensation in your eyes
- Nose congestion
- Runny nose
- Dry and scratchy throat
- Fatigue and Headache
Check when those asthma symptoms occurs?
The time when these symptoms occur is depending to the irritant agent, working in conjunction with symptoms of work asthma occurs not only at work. But you must pay attention if this current situation is applied to you?
- Shortly after the arrival to your workplace, the symptoms starting to but you. But when you are away from work, the symptoms stopped.
- Your symptoms start a few hours after returning home, and then in the next morning it is gone
- In the beginning of week, the symptoms are easy, but increases as approaching weekend.
- The working hours in your workplace, your symptoms more.
- You do not have symptoms during the holidays.
Are you allergic when you are in work location?
Occupational asthma disease may last for a lengthy period in some workers, even if they are no longer exposed to the agents that caused their symptoms. Workplace asthma caused by the work environment can be allergic or non-allergenic. In the allergic one, an allergic substance entering our body causes the body to produce von IgE antibodies. In the case of non-allergic asthma, it can irritate the airways, without the production of IgE antibodies and the secretion of histamine. In some circumstance, a person may be exposed to an asthma agent that does not trigger a new asthma, but make pre existing or current asthma worsening.
There are some implications in doing some diagnosis of occupational asthma. Since it is a work related asthma accident, it could involve some compensation. Pre-existing or current asthma aggravated in by asthma agent in work would be different than from asthma caused by the work environment.
Do your homework and make proper recording
The most important thing is to know what is the root cause of your occupational asthma symptoms is. By then you will get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Avoid the substance in question is of crucial and importance treatment. If exposure continues over a long period, it can cause permanent damage to the respiratory tract. An allergy / Asthma specialist is the best to see the doctor for this problem. If you have trouble finding someone in your area, try it with the doctor locator service (www.aaaai.org), the website of the America Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology.
If you have not do some check up, then it is the good time to start keep track your asthma symptoms and asthma attacks. Well, this including some option to relocate the workplace, such as moving to another job. Make a proper and precise recording of hours and days of the week, and every holiday when the symptoms occur. This information is need to be presented to physician or doctor.
Potential resources of occupational asthma
Three main resources of occupational asthma:
- The substance itself, the smoke and fumes are particularly irritating.
- The sensitivity of the individual. People who are already suffering from asthma and other allergies are more at risk, although anyone can have occupational asthma.
- The amount of exposure. How much of the substance of the air, and it is easily inhaled?
Some sources of occupational asthma include:
- Animal allergens in the workplace
- The manufacture of chemical or pharmaceutical. Asthma and allergy can be triggered by scents and chemical.
- Print on paper: ink, dyes, and cotton fibers
- Dust from floor
- Wood: paints, solvents, wood dust, smoke machines
- Dealing with the animals: Pet stores, farmers, veterinarians or hospital
- Hospital staff workers: latex allergy, a skin reaction, inhalation of latex protein allergy on the symptoms of asthma
- Cleaning of workers in companies: industry and households
- Hair: Hair dyes and chemicals
- Garden and landscape: Soil and air insecticide part, mold, dust
