Do you work around chemicals, dust, latex, mold, or animals?
If you do, you could be at risk for occupational asthma. Triggered by air irritants, this lung disease inflames your airways, making them swell to the point where it’s harder for air to get through. In response, you’ll find breathing more difficult, and you may even encounter other asthma symptoms, such as wheezing, chest tightness or pain, and sleeping troubles. All of which can cost you your quality of life and productivity. If you’re not careful, occupational asthma could disable you or force you to change jobs.
Unfortunately, this is quite a common disease. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, at least 15% of adults with asthma will likely experience it.
But what if you’ve never had asthma before? Does that make you immune to this disease? Sadly, no, it doesn’t. There is always a chance that you’ll develop this disease if you’re exposed to material that irritates your lungs.
So, what can you do if you get occupational asthma?
First of all, don’t panic. The disease can be problematic, but there are ways you can manage it. And here are a few ways to get started.
Alert your employer immediately.
One of the main points to keep in mind is that your employer can only help you if they know there’s a problem. So it’s in your best interest as well as your coworkers’ to report any issues you’ve experienced while working. That should include any breathing difficulties you might be experiencing.
Once they’re alerted, your employer should investigate your report and make any necessary changes. After all, the Occupational Safety and Health Act mandates that your employer should provide you with a workplace that’s safe from recognized hazards. This could mean creating work programs that reduce exposure to allergens and irritants, introducing precautions to prevent asthma, or eliminating smoking in the workplace.
Get medical assistance.
Another way to manage your occupational asthma is to talk to your doctor. As a health-care professional, your doctor can determine if you do have occupational asthma or a similar condition. And once they diagnose you, they’ll have a good idea of what treatments will help.
If you do have occupational asthma, then, your doctor may suggest you take medication like generic ADVAIR DISKUS®.
This medication can be expensive, but you can save significantly by ordering your medication from an international or Canadian pharmacy service. Such a service can connect you to licensed pharmacies abroad that are under stricter prescription price regulations than pharmacies in the United States. As a result, you can easily get your medication at a much more affordable price.
Try to avoid what’s triggering your asthma.
After talking with your doctor, you should know what triggers your asthma symptoms. Whether it’s dust or animal dander at your workplace, make sure you avoid it as much as you can. Chances are, once you’ve gotten occupational asthma, your body will react poorly to even the slightest trace of your particular trigger. But if you’re on top of managing your asthma, and you have your doctor’s recommended medication, you should still be able to work near your asthma triggers with little to no issue.
