lung and airway disorders
Work Related Asthma
Diagnosis of Work Related Asthma
History of asthma symptoms at work To make a diagnosis of work-related asthma, doctors ask about the symptoms and about exposure to any substances known to cause asthma. Doctors consider work-related asthma in adults with new-onset or worsening asthma. Improvement in asthma symptoms when the person is away from work (for example, on weekends or holidays) raises doctors' suspicion of work-related asthma. Following clarification of the asthma diagnosis, doctors document the timing, onset, and progression of asthma in relationship to work and also non-workplace exposures to asthma triggers. They obtain a thorough occupational history, including job title, industry, job tasks, and description of the work environment and materials used. Doctors should ask about specific processes, locations, or exposures at work that are associated with worsening symptoms. Safety data sheets, mandatory at all work sites in the United States, can be used to identify irritants and allergens that can cause asthma. However, the absence of a known irritant on the safety data sheet does not exclude the diagnosis of work-related asthma. For the few asthma-causing substances for which commercially available allergy testing is available, such as for certain animals and grains, allergy testing can help identify a causative substance. People may use a device to monitor their airways while at work and away from work. This device, called a portable peak flow meter, measures the rate at which a person can blow air out of the lungs. When rates are slower at work than at home, this suggests work-related asthma. Doctors base the diagnosis of work-exacerbated asthma on the person's history of pre-existing asthma (symptoms, medical history, medication usage, variable airflow obstruction) and the presence of conditions at work that can exacerbate (worsen) asthma. Worsening asthma related to work can be documented by noting worsening symptoms, increased frequency of doctor visits for asthma symptoms, increased use of asthma medications, or rarely, worsening lung function related to work. Recurrence of asthma that had resolved may be new-onset work-related asthma. 