Occupational Asthma

Signs of occupational asthma tend to get better when you’re away from work. If you notice symptoms getting better on the weekend or vacation, you can talk to your provider. They can refer you to an allergist. These specialists help with asthma.

Symptoms don’t always get better after leaving work. And you may develop occupational asthma even if you use respirators or personal protective equipment. It may take a few weeks away from the trigger to notice any improvement.

How is occupational asthma diagnosed?

An allergy and immunology specialist or pulmonologist can diagnose occupational asthma. This specialist will ask you several questions about your medical history. They will need to know where you have worked and what jobs you had. This information gives your healthcare provider clues about what might be triggering asthma attacks.

Before your appointment, it can be helpful to keep a log of when you have symptoms. Then you and your provider can compare the times you have symptoms to your work schedule. Knowing when you have the worst symptoms will help your provider determine if you have work-related asthma.

You’ll also have a complete physical exam. This exam can rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms, such as chronic sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux disorder (GERD) or obstructive sleep apnea.

It’s important to get care early if you suspect you might have occupational asthma. Continued exposure to irritants could damage your lungs permanently.

What tests do doctors use to find occupational asthma?

An allergy and immunology specialist uses specific tests to find out how well your lungs work. These tests show the healthcare provider how irritants affect your lungs. The tests might include:

Blood tests, which measure antibodies to specific allergens.
Peak flow meter, which measures how fast air comes out of your lungs when you exhale.
Skin tests, which check for allergies to specific substances.
Spirometry, a lung-function test that measures how well air flows through your lungs.

Symptoms

When to see a doctor

Request an appointment

Complications

Blood clots are a dangerous complication of atrial fibrillation (AFib). Blood clots can lead to stroke.

The risk of stroke from AFib increases as you grow older. Other health conditions also may increase the risk of a stroke due to AFib. These conditions include:

High blood pressure.
Diabetes.
Heart failure.
Some types of heart valve disease.

Blood thinners are commonly prescribed to prevent blood clots and strokes in people with atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce the risk of heart disease and may prevent atrial fibrillation (AFib). Here are some basic heart-healthy tips:

Control high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
Don't smoke or use tobacco.
Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat.
Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of the week unless your health care team says not to.
Get good sleep. Adults should aim for 7 to 9 hours daily.
Maintain a healthy weight.
Reduce and manage stress.

By Freedmans Health Clinic Staff

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