Work-related Asthma

An Asian man office worker having asthma attack at workplace, He sits at a table, uses an inhaler

Photo by Getty Images

Work-related asthma is asthma triggered by an exposure at work. Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs, causing the airways to become narrow and inflamed. To control it, avoid triggers that can cause asthma symptoms and take medicine.

Many asthma triggers can be in the workplace. Over 300 known or suspected substances in the workplace can cause or worsen asthma. Avoiding triggers can prevent asthma from getting worse.

Worsening asthma or new onset asthma in a worker should raise questions about workplace causes. Asthma symptoms can develop shortly after exposure. However, they can also develop months or years after repeated exposures to harmful substances.