Asthma in the Office: How to Work Around the Condition

If you have asthma, it goes without saying that work can be a challenge. Often triggered by stress and anxiety, your symptoms can make a guest appearance when you really, really don’t need them to.

According to Asthma UK, 43% of people suffering with the respiratory condition say that their symptoms can cause them problems in the workplace. Here, we discuss three ways you can make your working day as symptom-free as possible. As for the stress? Well, that’s down to you.

Talk to colleagues

It’s important to inform the people you’re working with about your asthma. This ensures that they’ll know how to react if and when you have an asthma attack at work. So, be sure to inform your colleagues, managers and any first-aiders based at your workplace.

Remove triggers

If you know that certain triggers set your asthma off, discuss your requirements with your manager or HR personnel – they’ll make adjustments to ensure you’re comfortable. For instance, if you’re sensitive to dust, you’ll be given a well aired work space that gathers little dust.

Be prepared

Always have an inhaler with you at work, whether that means keeping one stashed in your desk drawer or in the pocket of your hi-vis jacket. You’ll be grateful if an attack strikes unexpectedly.

Image courtesy of Alvin Mahmudov, Unsplash

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5 Ways to Reduce Indoor Allergens Instantly

Allergies are the medical equivalent of unexpected guests who don’t wait for an invitation, and tend to outstay their welcome. Stubborn, unforgiving and ultimately quite draining, allergies (and certain people) can have a negative impact on your life.

Indoor allergens are often responsible for many sufferers’ symptoms. You don’t have to skip through a field of flowers or work in a dusty environment to be affected by allergens, because actually, many of them are already in your home, making themselves comfortable and unlikely to leave any time soon. Remind you of anyone?

Now, we can’t do much about that neighbour who’s trying just a little too hard to be your friend, but we can do something about the other relentless presence in your home. Here, we round up five simple ways you can keep your house as allergen-free as possible.

Remove visible mold

If you’ve noticed patches of mold creeping up your basement or bathroom walls, it’s definitely time to do something about it. Mold and other fungi grow in moist, humid environments, and can be responsible for year-round allergy symptoms – so be assertive when it comes to removing dampness.

Swap your carpets

If you’re not a fan of square slates, don’t worry. You can swap your carpets for hardwood flooring in this instance. Allergens become attached to the fine fibres and are difficult to remove, while dust mites inhabit cosy, comfortable areas like carpets, curtains and other upholstery around your home.

Wash bedding frequently

Washing your bedding in hot water, and using high heat to dry it, will also help when it comes to battling it out with allergens inside the home. The high temperatures will ensure that any pesky particles will detach themselves from the material, and you can sleep easy at night. Try to clean your bed sheets and pillowcases at least once a week.

Keep pets separate

Rather than saying goodbye to your beloved companions for good, why not try keeping them restricted to a specific area or room in the house? If your dog or cat has been outside, they’re likely to return to the house with particles on their fur. Avoid having animals in your bedroom, and keep them as clean as possible.

Invest in technology

By opting for an indoor air cleaner, such as a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) device, you’re instantly improving the quality of air in your home. Additionally, you can purchase an air quality tracker that not only detects the particles in your home, but identifies them as well. Sensio AIR is set to hit shelves next year – find out more about the innovative device here.

Sources

http://www.everydayhealth.com/allergies/dust-mite-allergies.aspx

http://www.aafa.org/page/dust-mite-allergy.aspx

Image courtesy of Peter Raimann / Pixabay

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3 Reasons Why You Should Explain Asthma to Your Child

Being a parent is no easy task, what with football practice, endless laundry and homework (that you don’t necessarily understand) on your mind. Then, there’s the dreaded musical instrument phase, and the top 40 on the radio is no longer the soundtrack to your evening because it’s been replaced by pitchy renditions of Greensleeves. We’ve all been there.

However, having to think about all of this when you have a child with asthma is even more challenging. You’re not only packing their lunch and making sure their shoes are on the right feet, but checking to see if they’ve got their inhaler and watching out for unusually frequent coughing. 

Whether your child is at nursery, primary school or secondary school, it’s important to help them understand asthma and make sure they know what to do when the symptoms make an appearance. Why? We’re glad you asked.

Confidence

Once they have a better understanding of asthma, your child will feel more confident and less frightened should the symptoms make themselves known. If your child understands the condition, they’ll be able to explain it to those who don’t - be it children at the bus stop or in the playground. In turn, they’ll soon realise that there’s no need to feel embarrassed.

Knowledge

Explaining the condition to your little ones will encourage them to take asthma more seriously, and they will know not to ignore any symptoms. This will mean your kids will be more disciplined when it comes to taking their medicine. If they understand the severity of asthma, they’ll realise how important it is to remember their inhaler. 

Reassurance

If your child knows what to expect, how to react and who to speak to should his or her symptoms arise when they’re away from home, you’ll both be reassured when apart from each other. Knowing that your child has a strong understanding of asthma will also allow you to relax and get on with your day without worrying. 

Ultimately, there’s only so much you can do to manage asthma – be it your child’s or your own. The Sensio AIR medical advisory board advocates the use of prevention as opposed to over-treatment of patients, so be sure to take the appropriate steps to stop the signs of asthma before they start. Start by ensuring your home is dust and fur-free, void of unnecessary household chemicals and monitored by an accurate air quality monitor.

Tags

#asthma #allergy #respiratory #disease #triggers #cause #children #health #symptoms #SensioAIR #air #pollution #allergens