Occupational asthma
Occupational asthma is a respiratory condition triggered by inhaling workplace irritants such as dust, fumes, and gases, leading to symptoms like chest tightness, coughing, and shortness of breath. The condition can vary in duration; for some, symptoms may subside when exposure to triggers ceases, while for others, prolonged exposure can result in permanent asthma. Individuals in industries with high exposure—such as healthcare, farming, and construction—are particularly at risk, although any worker can develop the condition. Symptoms may only manifest during work hours or also persist at home, depending on the individual's sensitivity and exposure level.
Diagnosis typically involves medical assessments, including lung function tests and allergy evaluations. Treatment focuses on managing symptoms with medications and reducing exposure to triggers, although complete avoidance may require significant changes in employment. Preventative measures in the workplace, including adherence to safety guidelines and providing protective equipment, can help mitigate the risk of developing occupational asthma. Understanding this condition is crucial for workers and employers alike to foster safer work environments and promote respiratory health.
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Occupational asthma
Occupational asthma is a type of lung condition caused by breathing in substances, such as dust, fumes, or gases, in the workplace. The substances can cause the airways to swell and the muscles of the airways to spasm, which make it hard to breathe. Occupational asthma causes symptoms such as chest tightness, coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing. It can be a temporary or permanent condition. It may go away once a person is no longer exposed to a particular substance. People who work in industries where they are exposed to chemicals, dust, gases, or other inhaled irritants are more likely to develop occupational asthma, but workers in any industry can develop the condition.
Background
Occupational asthma typically occurs when a person is exposed to an irritant at work. These substances can cause an allergic reaction, an irritant reaction, or an asthma attack. Illness can begin as soon as a person comes into contact with an irritant or over a period of regular exposure. Some people experience symptoms only while they are at their place of employment. Symptoms may worsen while a person is at work and then lessen or stop when a person is away from work on weekends or vacations. Other individuals may have symptoms both at work and at home.
The symptoms that people experience are dependent upon several factors, including the substance itself and how long individuals are exposed to a particular irritant. The asthma can be temporary and reversed after exposure is stopped. However, the longer a person is around the irritating substance, the more likely the asthma will become permanent.
Occupational asthma causes symptoms similar to those of other types of asthma. Some signs of occupational asthma include breathing issues, chest tightness, congestion in the chest or nasal cavities, coughing, eye irritation, runny nose, shortness of breath, and wheezing. An asthma attack can be serious and may require immediate medical treatment. Serious symptoms include prolonged shortness of breath or wheezing, specifically with minimal activity.
More than three hundred substances can cause occupational asthma. Some of the most common irritants include animal substances found on the skin or hair and in saliva or wastes; chemicals, including those used to make adhesives, foam, insulation, packaging materials, paints, and resin; enzymes in detergents and other cleaning supplies; metals, including chromium, nickel sulfate, and platinum; plant substances such as dusts from cereals, cotton, flax, hemp, rubber latex, rye, and wheat; gases such as chlorine gas and sulfur dioxide; mold; and smoke.
People who already have asthma or allergies are at an increased risk of developing occupational asthma. In addition, individuals with a family history of asthma or allergies may develop these conditions themselves. Smoking increases the risk of asthma. Certain occupations where employees are around inhaled contaminants carry higher risks of developing occupational asthma. Some of these professions include bakers, carpenters, detergent manufacturers, drug manufacturers, farmers, hairstylists, health care workers, metalworkers, millers, plastics workers, textile workers, veterinarians, and woodworkers.
Overview
If individuals begin to experience asthma symptoms that they believe may be related to their occupation, they should see a physician for a diagnosis. They may be referred to an allergist or immunologist. Bloodwork and lung x-rays may be prescribed first to rule out other conditions. Physicians can confirm asthma by using pulmonary function tests, challenge tests, and allergy tests.
During spirometry, patients breathe into a spirometer machine, which measures breathing against the norms for a person of the same age and sex. Typically, patients who measure poorly during the spirometry are asked to inhale a bronchodilator drug and retake the test. If their breathing improves after the drug, they may have asthma.
During peak flow measurement, patients use a device that measures how fast they can force air out of their lungs. They typically use the device at different times throughout the day both at work and at home to determine if they have occupational asthma.
A nitric oxide test determines the levels of the gas in a patient's breath. High levels are a sign of asthma. During a challenge test, a patient inhales an aerosol containing a small amount of the suspected trigger substance. Then, the lungs are tested to determine if the substance is affecting the patient's ability to breathe.
An allergy skin test is used to determine if a person exhibits signs of a reaction to a particular substance. A doctor pricks the patient's skin with a solution containing an allergen. This test is used to determine if a person has an allergy to such irritants as animal dander, dust mites, certain foods, latex, or mold.
No cure exists for asthma, and occupational asthma is generally treated with medication. The best way to treat the condition is to remove the trigger from the environment, which is not always possible. The use of masks or respirators may help a person avoid inhaling irritants but may not always prevent asthma symptoms. Medication is used to control asthma symptoms and to prevent attacks, which can be life threatening if not treated immediately.
Long-term and quick-relief types of asthma medications exist. Long-term medications are taken over time to supress symptoms and prevent attacks. Examples include inhaled corticosteroids, inhaled long-acting beta agonists, a combination of the two, and oral leukotriene modifiers. Quick-relief, also called rescue medications, are used during asthma attacks. These include bronchodilators, such as inhaled short-acting beta agonists, and oral and intravenous corticosteroids. Asthma that is triggered or made worse by allergies is usually treated by allergy medications such as oral and nasal spray antihistamines and decongestants or allergy shots.
Limiting exposure to asthma triggers in the workplace can reduce occupational asthma occurrences. The only way to fully prevent occupational asthma is for people to avoid places where they encounter irritants. However, this might mean that individuals may have to look elsewhere for employment.
Employers can follow steps to help prevent occupational asthma. They should adhere to the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) federal health and safety guidelines. They can also train workers about the hazards of inhaling certain substances, offer masks and other safety equipment, and ban smoking in the workplace.
Bibliography
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