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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staff
Occupational asthma symptoms are similar to those caused by other types of asthma. Signs and symptoms may include:
- Wheezing
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
Other possible accompanying signs and symptoms may include:
- Runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Eye irritation
Occupational asthma symptoms vary from person to person and depend on the substance you're exposed to, how long and how often you're exposed, your body's individual reaction, and other factors. Your symptoms may vary and can include symptoms that:
- Get worse as the workweek progresses, go away during weekends and vacations, and recur when you return to work.
- Occur both at work and away from work.
- Start right after exposure to an irritant at work.
- Start after months or even years of regular exposure to an irritant.
- Continue after exposure is stopped. The longer you're exposed to the asthma-causing substance, the more likely you'll have long-lasting or permanent asthma symptoms.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment to see a doctor if you have breathing problems, such as coughing, wheezing or shortness of breath. Breathing problems may be a sign of asthma, especially if symptoms seem to be getting worse over time or appear to be aggravated by specific triggers or irritants.
Seek immediate medical treatment if you have worsening symptoms. Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening. Signs of an asthma attack that needs emergency treatment include:
- Rapid worsening of shortness of breath or wheezing
- No improvement even after using short-acting bronchodilators
- Shortness of breath with minimal activity
- Chan-Yeung M. Overview of occupational asthma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Malo J. Diagnosis and clinical assessment of asthma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Dykewicz MS. Occupational asthma: Current concepts in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2009;123:519.
- GINA report, global strategy for asthma management and prevention. Cape Town, South Africa: Global Initiative for Asthma. http://www.ginasthma.org/Guidelineitem.asp??l1=2&l2=1&intId=1561. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Chan-Yeung M. Pathogenesis of occupational asthma. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Tips to Remember: Occupational asthma. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/occupationalasthma.stm. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Malo J, et al. Occupational asthma. In: Adkinson N, et al: Middleton's Allergy: Principles and Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier. 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/134488541-3/0/1806/57.html?tocnode=56310176&fromURL=57.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05659-5..00053-X_1739. Accessed April 29, 2009.
- Smith AM, et al. Management of work-related asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2009;123:551.
- Passalacqua G, et al. ARIA update: I - Systematic review of complementary and alternative medicine for rhinitis and asthma. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2006;117:1054.
- Steurer-Stey C. Complementary and alternative medicine in asthma: Do they work? Swiss Medicine Weekly. 2002;132:338.
- Hayes M, et al. Are any alternative therapies effective in treating asthma? The Journal of Family Practice. 2007;56:385.
- Horwitz R. Controlling asthma: The role of nutrition. Explore Journal of Science and Healing. 2005;5:393.
- Mainardi T, et al. Complementary and alternative medicine: Herbs, phytochemicals and vitamins and their immunologic effects. Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology. 2009;123:283.
