AsthmaWork-related asthma Treatment for work-related asthma
The treatment for work-related asthma has three parts:
- Avoid the things that cause or worsen your asthma. If you have work-exacerbated asthma, you may be able to get relief by cutting down on your exposure to the thing that gives you symptoms, or by wearing protective equipment. If that doesn’t work, you may have to switch jobs to get away from the thing that triggers your asthma. If you have occupational asthma, it’s best to completely avoid the thing that caused your asthma. Protective equipment is usually not enough. If you have occupational asthma, it’s usually best to switch to a new job, away from the thing that caused your asthma.
- If your doctor prescribes them, take asthma medications to control your symptoms.
- Follow your asthma action plan. It contains written instructions from your doctor that tell you what to do and what to take if your symptoms get worse. Your healthcare team can teach you how to manage your asthma symptoms.
It's also important that you know what to do during an asthma emergency.
Will I have occupational asthma forever? Will it go away?
It depends. Your occupational asthma may or may not disappear.
In some people, occupational asthma can completely clear. This is more likely to happen if you get diagnosed early and if you completely avoid the thing that caused your asthma (by changing to a different job).
In other people, occupational asthma does not go away completely. It may improve slowly, over many years, if you avoid the thing that caused your asthma. Your chances of completely recovering from occupational asthma are highest if you:
- get diagnosed and treated right away
and
- you stay away from the thing that caused your asthma, by switching to a different job.
Will I have to switch jobs because of work-related asthma?
It depends.
If you have work-exacerbated asthma – something at work makes your asthma worse – you may be able to keep your current job if you use protective equipment or take other special steps to limit your exposure to the thing that’s giving you symptoms.
If you have occupational asthma – something at work made you get asthma for the first time – you should completely stay away from the thing that caused you asthma. For most people, this means they have to leave their present job and do a new kind of work.
If you have to do a different job because you got asthma from your current job, your employer may be able to transfer you to a different part of the company. For example, a grocery store baker with occupational asthma caused by flour could be transferred to the store's accounting office. If that’s not possible, you may have to quit your job and start a new line of work, one that doesn’t use the thing that gave you asthma.
If you apply for compensation (payment) for occupational asthma, you may be able to get money to pay for tuition or other retraining costs, so you can learn what you need to start a new line of work.
Can I get compensation (payment) if I develop work-related asthma?
You may be able to get compensation if you develop occupational asthma. It’s also possible (but less likely) to get compensation for work-exacerbated asthma.
People with occupational or work-exacerbated asthma can lose a lot of money, because of missed work, the cost of medications, the cost of retraining, and possibly lower wages if they move to a different job. If your doctor has confirmed that you have occupational or work-exacerbated asthma, find out if you can get compensation (money).
The rules about compensation are different in each province and territory. Contact the worker’s compensation board in your province or territory for more information about who qualifies and what is offered. To find the phone number for your local Worker’s compensation board, look on this page of contact information for worker’s compensation boards across Canada.
Be sure to apply for compensation as soon as you have your diagnosis. It can take time for compensation boards to process claims.
Get information and support for work-related asthma
Work-related asthma affects your health and your job. Coping with it can be very stressful. You may have questions about how to manage your asthma and how to cope. The Lung Association can help.
If you're feeling overwhelmed, consider joining an asthma support group. Sharing your experiences with others may help you better understand your condition and take control of your treatment. This will help you overcome your anxiety and stress.
To learn more about work-related asthma and to find out about support groups in your area, call your provincial Lung Association office:
Learn more about asthma in our main asthma section:
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