Is Your Job Making You Sick?

For millions of Americans, Monday morning is that dreaded day when you have to face all the work that you dashed away from on Friday. The unread emails, that flashing red light for messages on your phone and countless tasks ahead are just waiting for you. As you toss and turn in bed you try to remember how many sick days you have left. No, you're not trying to play hooky. You just hate being in the office lately. Since your office moved to that new location you've been under the weather. And now that spring is here you think you've developed allergies too.

Just a minute! Before you write off the way you're feeling as a change in the weather it just might be something entirely different. Your stuffy nose and watery eyes may be caused by changes in your office. In Patty Mulcahy's case that is exactly what happened to her. Patty's problems began two years ago when her office began new renovations. She developed itchy and watery eyes and ended up in the emergency room after five days because the swelling and redness in her eyes became so intolerable. She returned to work and her condition worsened. She had a bad cough which was initially diagnosed as pneumonia. When she collapsed at work unable to breathe her diagnosis was changed to occupational asthma.

Patty's case is not rare. Many people are literally allergic to work - actually it is more like they are allergic to their workplace. Unfortunately, calling in sick to the office may be viewed as a ploy to avoid coming to work. But, for people like Patty workplace allergies are real. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, occupational asthma accounts for 10% of asthma cases in the United States.

Respiratory illnesses induced by work related conditions result in about 25 million missed workdays every year. Many workplaces have possible triggers and the Mayo Clinic list the professions at greatest risk for occupational asthma. While some people may experience sensitivity toward certain triggers, others develop allergies to them. Sometimes sensitivity and allergies are used interchangeably. However, they are not the same thing really. Someone may get a headache when conversing with a person wearing a type of perfume or cologne. When that person leaves, the fragrance subsides and so does the headache; that is a sensitivity response. An allergy is when someone must avoid eating shellfish or else their throat will swell up and close off their airway.

People can figure out if they have an occupational allergy on their own. All it requires is paying attention to where you experience symptoms. A telltale sign is if you are feeling worse when you're at work but fine when you're away from the office. The next step is to confirm your suspicions with an allergist. While diagnosing your allergy may be easy, figuring out what to do about it requires a bit more analysis. After all, avoiding certain foods you're allergic to is possible. But, when it is your "bread and butter" you have to avoid that's a bit more complicated.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provide guidelines for handling many substances. Where it is possible and necessary masks, ventilation systems and rotating exposure to these substances helps to reduce workplace induced allergies. Despite, these efforts people continue to suffer from their allergies. This forces some people to have to leave their jobs. That is what Patty had to do eventually after requesting that her office make changes to improve her condition. Not only were her complaints treated as a potential lawsuit she also began receiving negative reviews.

If you believe you are suffering from workplace allergies here are a few things you can do to try to improve your working conditions:

Identify the cause of your allergies
Discuss the problem with your supervisor
Keep your work area clutter free
Wipe down surfaces often to minimize dust
Request a maintenance check of the building's air exchange system
Get a tabletop air purifier for your desk

See how much you know about allergies and asthma by taking this Discovery Health quiz.

Source: Sickened by the Office (Really)