| Some professions can actually cause | | | | health issues. |
| asthma or, trigger it to make it worse, | | | | When a job or workplace is causing the |
| this is called occupational asthma. | | | | asthma, co-workers, are also affected. |
| Most jobs locations, especially office | | | | However if it is just you it could be |
| and factory professions, have some kind | | | | another cause such as job-related stress |
| of dust, smells and other fumes, with | | | | rather than any fumes or pollutants. |
| which you have direct contact or, | | | | Wrongly blaming your job for your asthma |
| indirectly, as it may be going through | | | | can have very bad effects. |
| the ventilation or air systems (from one | | | | Why lose your job if it is harmless and |
| office to another), producing | | | | didn't cause your asthma at all? |
| occupational asthma. | | | | Also, if people think that the workplace |
| Usually the levels that you breathe in | | | | caused asthma, the expense of improving |
| are so minute (small) that you aren't | | | | working conditions may mean there will |
| troubled by it. | | | | be fewer jobs or in some cases no jobs |
| This means that if the job location , or | | | | at all. |
| your work environment, is the cause of | | | | In addition, a diagnosis of occupational |
| your occupational asthma, your asthmatic | | | | asthma may reduce your chances of future |
| conditions will improve if you leave | | | | employment. |
| that job, or that at least change your | | | | However, if your gets better during the |
| work environment, assuming that you and | | | | weekends, on an extended break, or when |
| your doctor have caught and treated it | | | | you are on vacation, it likely that |
| early enough. | | | | something at work is the cause of it. |
| However the longer you continue working | | | | The dust, fumes or allergens in various |
| in the same conditions which are causing | | | | trades such as bakeries (flour), working |
| the asthma, the more likely you are to | | | | with animals, working with |
| continue having asthmatic conditions | | | | pharmaceuticals, craftsmen (especially |
| even after you leave those working | | | | wood), electronics (soldering), textile |
| conditions and stay away from the dust, | | | | dyes (reactive dyes), polyurethane |
| smells or fumes. | | | | paints and plastic moulding, etc., can |
| Unfortunately, most continue with a job | | | | be direct causes of occupational asthma. |
| in a damaging environment as they have | | | | Oddly enough, many substances with a |
| not realized that there is a | | | | nasty smell don't seem to cause asthma, |
| relationship between their environment | | | | even though they can cause allergic |
| and their health, or because it is | | | | reactions in the nose. |
| seemingly very difficult to leave or | | | | If you believe you may have asthma, |
| change jobs. The cost of either is very | | | | occupational or not, do not hesitate to |
| high, occupational asthma, or other | | | | speak with your doctor immediately. |