Description

Occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by the inhalation of fumes, gases, dust or other substances in the work. These substances can trigger an immune system response that changes the way the lungs work. Occupational asthma is also called work-related asthma.

In asthma, the airways narrow and swell. You can also make more mucus than normal. This makes it difficult to breathe and can cause pressure in the chest, wheezing and shortness of breath.

Avoiding triggers is important for the management of occupational asthma. Treatment includes medications that reduce the symptoms. For people who were diagnosed with asthma in the past, medications may help to improve symptoms related to the workplace triggers.

If occupational asthma is not treated and triggers are not avoided, asthma can cause permanent changes in the lungs.

Symptoms

Occupational asthma symptoms can include:

  • Wheezing.
  • Cough.
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Tightness in the chest.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Runny nose.
  • The congestion of the nose.
  • Itchy or watery eyes.

Occupational asthma symptoms depend on the substance to which we are exposed to, for how long and with what frequency it is exposed, and other factors. Its symptoms can be:

  • Begin immediately after the exposure to a substance, later in the day or after work.
  • Improve or go away on rest days or during the holidays and then return to go to work.
  • You can start early in the day and you can't improve on rest days as the disease progresses.
  • May become permanent, even after long periods of time outside of work.

When to see a doctor

Seek medical attention right away if your symptoms get worse. Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening. The symptoms of an attack of asthma that require emergency treatment include:

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing that is quickly getting worse.
  • No relief of symptoms after using a quick-relief medicine.
  • Shortness of breath, even with little activity.

Make an appointment to see your health care professional if you have breathing problems, such as coughing, wheezing, or difficulty breathing, especially if the symptoms do not go away or get worse.

Causes

More than 400 workplace substances have been identified as potential triggers of occupational asthma. These substances include:

  • Proteins of Animal origin are found in the dander, hair, scales, skin, saliva, and other body waste.
  • The chemicals used to make paints, varnishes, adhesives, laminates and welding of resin. Other examples include the chemicals used for the manufacture of insulation materials, packaging materials, and foam mattresses and upholstery.
  • The enzymes used in detergents and baking flour.
  • Metals, in particular platinum, chromium, and nickel sulfate.
  • Vegetable substances, including proteins found in natural rubber latex, flour, cereals, cotton, flax, hemp, rye, wheat, and papaya.
  • Irritating gases or particulate matter, such as chlorine gas, sulfur dioxide, and smoke.

The symptoms of asthma start when your lungs are irritated. This irritation causes an immune system reaction called inflammation. Inflammation is defined as the inflammation and other changes in the tissues of the respiratory tract caused by the activity of the immune system. These changes narrow the airways and make it difficult to breathe.

With occupational asthma, inflammation of the lungs can be caused by a substance a person is allergic, such as mold, or animal protein. Sometimes, the lung inflammation is triggered by an irritating substance, also called an irritant, such as chlorine or smoke.

Risk factors

The more you're exposed to an irritating substance, the greater the risk of developing occupational asthma. In addition, you will have an increased risk if:

  • You have allergies or asthma. Although this may increase your risk, many people who have allergies or asthma do the jobs that expose them to an irritant in the lungs and never have any symptoms.
  • Other members of the family suffer from allergies or asthma. Your parents can transmit the genes that make it more likely that you will develop asthma.
  • You work around well-known triggers of asthma. Some substances are known to be lung irritants and asthma triggers.
  • You smoke. Smoking increases the risk of developing asthma if you are exposed to certain types of irritants.

High-risk jobs

It is possible to develop occupational asthma in almost any place of work. But your risk is greater in certain workplaces. Some of the most dangerous jobs associated with the asthma-production of substances include the following:

Complications

The more time you are exposed to a substance that can cause occupational asthma, in the worst of the symptoms can be. Also, the longer the exposure, the longer it will take for your symptoms to improve after the exposure stops. In some cases, the exposure to air asthma triggers can cause permanent changes in the lungs.

Prevention

The best way to prevent occupational asthma is the control of exposure to chemicals and other substances that are irritating. Workplaces can configure the controls to prevent exposure, the use of less harmful substances and provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers.

Medications can help relieve symptoms and control the inflammation linked to occupational asthma. But you can do several things on your own to be healthy and reduce the possibility of attacks:

  • If you smoke, stop smoking. Being smoke-free can help prevent or lessen the symptoms of occupational asthma.
  • Get vaccinated against the flu. This can help prevent the disease that affects the lungs.
  • Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nsaids) and other medicines which can make symptoms worse. Ask your health care provider about all the medicines you take regularly.
  • To lose weight. For people with obesity, losing weight can help improve the symptoms and overall health of the lungs.

If you are in the united States and you have a high risk of work, your company must follow the rules to help protect you from harmful chemicals. Under the guidelines of the Occupational Safety and Health administration (OSHA), your employer is required to do the following:

  • They say that if you're going to work with harmful chemicals.
  • Train is the most secure way to handle these chemicals.
  • Train how to respond to an emergency such as a chemical spill.
  • Supply of protective equipment, such as masks and respirators.
  • Provide additional training when a new chemical is used in your place of work.

Under OSHA guidelines, your employer is required to maintain a safety data sheet (MSDS) for each harmful chemical used in their place of work. This is a document that must be presented by the chemical manufacturer for your employer. You have the right to see and copy such documents. If you suspect that you are allergic to certain substances, show the MSDS to your health professional.

While on the job, watch for conditions that may not be safe or healthy. Report concerns to your supervisor. If necessary, call OSHA at 800-321-OSHA ( 800-321-6742 ) and ask for an inspection on the site. You can do this for your name not to be revealed to your employer.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of occupational asthma is similar to the diagnosis of other types of asthma. However, your healthcare provider will also seek to identify if a substance in the workplace is the cause of their symptoms and what substance is causing problems.

A diagnosis of asthma should be confirmed with a test called a pulmonary function test. This test shows how well your lungs work. An allergy skin prick test can show if you have allergic reactions to certain substances that cause allergy. Blood tests, x-rays or other tests may be needed to rule out that the cause of occupational asthma.

Pulmonary function tests

Lung function tests include:

  • Spirometry.During this 10 to 15 minutes of the test, you breathe deeply and exhale with force in a hose connected to a device called a spirometer. A spirometer measures the amount of air that the lungs can hold and how quickly you can breathe. This is the best test for the diagnosis of asthma. I'm going to repeat the test after inhaling the asthma medication that helps open up the airways. Improvement of lung function after using the medicine supports a diagnosis of asthma.
  • Peak flow measurement.You may be asked to bring a small handheld device called a peak flow meter. This device measures the speed with which it can force the air out of the lungs. The slower you breathe out, the worse your condition. You'll likely be asked to use your peak flow meter at certain times of working and nonworking hours. If your breathing is improved significantly when you are absent from work, you may have occupational asthma.

Spirometry. During this 10 to 15 minutes of the test, you breathe deeply and exhale with force in a hose connected to a device called a spirometer. A spirometer measures the amount of air that the lungs can hold and how quickly you can breathe. This is the best test for the diagnosis of asthma.

I'm going to repeat the test after inhaling the asthma medication that helps open up the airways. Improvement of lung function after using the medicine supports a diagnosis of asthma.

Peak flow measurement. You may be asked to bring a small handheld device called a peak flow meter. This device measures the speed with which it can force the air out of the lungs. The slower you breathe out, the worse your condition.

You'll likely be asked to use your peak flow meter at certain times of working and nonworking hours. If your breathing is improved significantly when you are absent from work, you may have occupational asthma.

The evidence of the causes of occupational asthma

You may need tests to see if you have a reaction to specific substances. These include:

  • The evidence of allergy on the skin. During a skin test, small amounts of common allergens substances are scratched into your skin. Then the area is noted for about 15 minutes. Swelling or a change in the color of the skin indicates an allergy to the substance. These tests may indicate an allergy to the animal, mold, dust mites, plants, and latex. May not be used to measure the reaction of the chemicals.
  • Challenge test. You inhale a vapor that contains a small amount of a suspected chemical to see if it triggers a reaction. Your lung function will be tested before and after the test to see if the chemical that affects your ability to breathe.
  • X-ray of the chest. Occupational asthma is a type of occupational lung disease. You may need a chest x-ray to diagnose other types of work-related respiratory problems.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to prevent the symptoms and stop an asthma attack in progress.

Avoid the place of work of the substance that causes your symptoms is important. Once you become sensitive to the substance, small amounts can trigger symptoms of asthma, even if you wear a mask or respirator.

You may need medicines to the success of the treatment. The same medications are used to treat occupational and non-occupational asthma.

The right medication for you depends on many things. These include: age, symptoms, asthma triggers and what seems to work best to keep your asthma under control.

Long-term control medicines

  • Inhaled corticosteroids. Inhaled corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and has a relatively low risk of side effects.
  • Leukotriene modifiers. These drugs are an alternative to corticosteroids. Sometimes, it is taken with corticosteroids.
  • Long-acting beta agonists (LABAs). LABAs open the airways and reduce inflammation. For asthma, LABAs in general should only be taken in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid.
  • The combination of inhalers. These medicines contain a LABA and a corticosteroid.

Quick-relief medications in the short term

  • Short-acting beta agonists. These medications relieve symptoms during an asthma attack.
  • Oral and intravenous corticosteroids. These relieve the inflammation of the airways severe asthma. These are taken by mouth or injection. In the long term, it can cause serious side effects.

If you need to use a quick-relief inhaler more often than recommended, you may need to adjust your long-term control medicine.

Also, if the allergy trigger or worsen asthma, you may benefit from treatments for allergies. These treatments include medications taken by mouth or with a nasal spray. Antihistamines help to block the activity of the immune system that causes the symptoms of allergy. Decongestants help to relieve nasal congestion.

Alternative medicine

Many people claim to alternative remedies to reduce the symptoms of asthma. But in most cases, more research is needed to see if they work and if they have possible side effects. Alternative remedies that need further study include:

  • Breathing techniques. These include structured breathing programs, such as the method Buteyko, the Papworth method, lung-muscle training and breathing exercises of yoga. While these techniques can help to improve the quality of life, which have not been shown to improve the symptoms of asthma.
  • Acupuncture. This technique has its roots in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves placing very thin needles at strategic points on the body. Acupuncture is safe and generally without pain, but there is not enough evidence to show that it is asthma.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your primary healthcare professional. Or you can start by seeing a doctor who specializes in asthma, such as an allergist-immunologist or pulmonologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

  • Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do beforehand. You may need to stop taking antihistamines if you're likely to have an allergy skin test.
  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that did not seem related to problems with breathing.
  • Note the time of the asthma symptoms — for example, note if your symptoms are worse at work and get better when you're out of work.
  • Make a list of all the potential in the workplace lung irritants and any other thing that seems to trigger your symptoms. You may want to take a look at the safety data sheet (MSDS) for your area of work, if there is one. This sheet lists of toxic chemicals and irritants used in your place of work. Please note that not all triggers of occupational asthma are listed in the data sheet .
  • Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes and changes in your job or place of work.
  • Bring a list of all medications, vitamins or supplements you take.
  • Bring a family member or friend along, if possible. Someone who accompanies you may remember the information that you missed or forgot.
  • Write questions to ask their care provider.

For occupational asthma, some basic questions to ask include:

  • It is a place of work irritant a likely cause of my breathing problems or asthma attacks?
  • What are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
  • What tests do I need? Do these tests require any special preparation?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
  • How can I treat occupational asthma? Do I have to quit my job?
  • What are the alternatives to the treatment you are suggesting?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage these conditions?
  • There are restrictions that must be followed?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

Do not hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your healthcare provider is likely to ask several questions, such as:

  • When did you first notice your symptoms?
  • If you already use medicine for asthma, how often do you use a quick-relief inhaler?
  • Do you have trouble breathing when you're out of work or just for when you are at work?
  • The symptoms been continuous or come and go?
  • Have been diagnosed with allergies or asthma?
  • They are exposed to fumes, gases, smoke, chemical irritants, or of the plant or animal substances in the workplace? If so, how often and for how long?
  • Do you work in unusual environmental conditions, such as extreme heat, cold or dryness?
  • What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
  • What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
  • Do other members of your family suffer from allergies or asthma?
Symptoms and treatment of Occupational asthma