Asthma and Workrelated Asthma

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Asthma and Work-related Asthma

• Developed by
• Dana Hughes, RN, PhD
• Miners Hospital, University of Utah
• Libbey M. Chuy, MPH
• Asthma Program, Utah Department of Health

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Overview

• Asthma What is it?
• Symptoms of asthma
• What is work-related asthma?
• How common is work-related asthma?
• What substances trigger asthma?
• How asthma is treated?
• Clues that suggest asthma may be work-related
• What YOU can do if you have asthma

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Asthma What is It?

• Asthma is a chronic lung disease that obstructs
  airflow
• The obstruction is reversible
• It involves difficulty in breathing due to
• Inflammation (swelling)
• Mucus in the airways
• Tightening of muscles around the airways

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Symptoms of asthma

• Coughing
• Wheezing, a whistling sound
• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness
• Sneezing runny nose
• Itchy and inflamed eyes

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What is work-related asthma?

• Pre-existing asthma that is triggered or made
  worse by exposure to one or more substances in
  the work-environment
• OR
• Asthma that is caused by exposure to substances
  in the work-environment
• Signs and symptoms are the same for asthma and
  work-related asthma

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How common is asthma?

• About 20 million Americans currently have asthma
• About 8 of Utah adults have asthma
• Up to 20 of all adult asthma cases maybe
  work-related asthma
• Of those diagnosed with work-related asthma
• 20-27 are individuals with pre-existing asthma
  who react to substances in the workplace
• Up to 80 develop asthma due to work-place
  exposures

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What substances trigger asthma?
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Can asthma be cured?

• Asthma can be controlled (but not cured) by
• Avoiding triggers or reducing exposure to
  triggers
• Using medication to control symptoms
• Medications - generally two types are used
• Controller or long-term drugs
• Taken to prevent excess production of mucus to
  reduce the inflammation and constriction of
  airway muscles
• Rescue or quick-relief drugs
• Taken to relax muscles around the airways to
  improve breathing

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Poorly controlled asthma leads to

• Increased visits to
• Doctor, Urgent Care Clinic or Hospital ER
• Hospitalizations
• Limitations in daily activities
• Lost work days
• Lower quality of life
• Death

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What clues suggest that asthma is
work-related?

• Do symptoms
• Occur only at work or regularly after a
  work-shift?
• Improve on weekends or vacations?
• Increase over the course of the work week?
• Improve after changes in the work environment?

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Information to share with doctor

• Discuss your symptoms.
• When do they occur?
• How often do they occur?
• Time of day or week that symptoms are worse
• Times you feel better
• Identify
• Substances in the work-place to which you are
  exposed
• Current and previous jobs, hobbies, and smoking
  habits that may affect your lungs

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What YOU can do if you have asthma?

• Identify and minimize contact with your asthma
  trigger(s)
• Understand and take asthma medications as
  prescribed
• Recognize early signs that your asthma is getting
  worse
• Know what to do when your asthma is getting worse