Canadian Lung Association - fighting lung disease for over 100 yearsSearchSite mapContact usFrançais
  Canadian Lung Association>Lung diseases>Asthma>Work-related asthma>Diagnosis of work-related asthma  
 

Asthma

Work-related asthma

Diagnosis of work-related asthma

If you think you have signs and symptoms of work-related asthma, your doctor will take a few steps to make a diagnosis.

First, your doctor will ask you about your work and your work history:

  • Do you have a history of asthma, allergies or breathing problems?
  • What is your current job, and what jobs have you done before?
  • What kinds of substances (things) do you work with? Are there paints, fumes, gases, smoke or animals at your work? (If you can, write a list of all the things you work with and show it to the doctor. If you have material safety data sheets (MSDS) about products you work with, bring those to the doctor.)
  • What are the environmental conditions at your work? Is it really hot or really cold?
  • What kind of safety equipment do you use? Do you use a mask or a venting chamber?

Your doctor will also ask about your symptoms:

  • Do you have wheezing or coughing?
  • Are you short of breath?
  • Do these symptoms happen only at work, only at home, or all the time?
  • Are they worse at certain times?
  • Do your symptoms keep you up at night?
  • Do these symptoms go away when you are away from work for a long time?

After asking your about your work and your symptoms, your doctor will examine you. The doctor may send you for further tests, including lung function tests. Your doctor may refer you to a breathing specialist doctor (respirologist) for more tests.

These questions and tests will help your doctor decide if you have asthma or another breathing problem. If you already have asthma, the doctor can figure out if your job is making it worse.

If the doctor thinks you may be allergic to something, s/he may also send you to allergist. The allergist can do skin prick testing or scratch testing to see what you’re allergic to (things you are allergic to are called "allergens"). The allergist will put a tiny drop of a possible allergen on the skin of your arm or back. She will prick or scratch the skin under each drop. Then she’ll see how your skin reacts. If you’re allergic to something, your skin will get red and a little swollen under that drop or allergen. ( Read more about allergies and asthma.)

If you already have asthma: diagnosing work-exacerbated asthma

If you already have asthma and your symptoms get worse, your doctor will try to figure out whether your asthma is work-exacerbated (made worse by something at work). Your doctor may ask you to measure your peak flow – that is, how much air you can blow out of your lungs. Your peak flow drops when your asthma symptoms are worse, so measuring peak flow every day for a period of time is a good way to see if your asthma symptoms are getting worse.

To measure your peak flow, you blow hard into a peak flow meter, a small plastic device you can buy at the drug store. Then you write down your peak flow "score" on a chart. You can take your peak flow readings several times a day for two weeks when you're working, and for two weeks when you’re off work. You can record your peak flow score on this printable diary card (PDF). Your peak flow score may change over time. Your doctor will look at your peak flow readings over time and see if your worsening symptoms are related to your work.

What should I do if I’ve been diagnosed with work-related asthma?

  1. Get treatment. Treatment may include medication and staying away from the thing that gives you asthma symptoms. Learn about treatment for work-related asthma.
  2. Tell your employer about your diagnosis and ask about how to protect yourself. If your doctor thinks you can safely stay in your current job, ask how you can lower your exposure to the thing that gives you symptoms. For example, see if protective equipment or a ventilation chamber can reduce your exposure.
  3. Apply for compensation (payment). You may be allowed to get compensation for lost wages and medical costs caused by work-related asthma. Apply for compensation as soon as you get your diagnosis. Learn more about compensation for work-related asthma.

Learn about treatment for work-related asthma, and where to get help

Back to Top