Sensitizer-induced asthma, Irritant-induced asthma
Root Cause of Disease
Occupational asthma is a type of asthma. It occurs when you breathe in chemical fumes, gases, dust, or other substances on the job. When that happens, it causes an allergic or immunological response.
Symptoms
Occupational asthma signs and symptoms may include:
- Wheezing, sometimes just at night
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
Causes
More than 400 workplace substances have been identified as possible causes of occupational asthma. These substances include:
- Animal substances such as proteins found in dander, hair, scales, fur, saliva, and body wastes.
- Chemicals used to make paints, varnishes, adhesives, laminates and soldering resin. Other examples include chemicals used to make insulation, packaging materials, and foam mattresses and upholstery.
- Enzymes used in detergents and flour conditioners.
- Metals, particularly platinum, chromium, and nickel sulfate.
- Plant substances, including proteins found in natural rubber latex, flour, cereals, cotton, flax, hemp, rye, wheat, and papain — a digestive enzyme derived from papaya.
- Respiratory irritants, such as chlorine gas, sulfur dioxide and smoke.
Asthma symptoms start when your lungs become irritated (inflamed). Inflammation causes several reactions that restrict the airways and make it difficult to breathe. With occupational asthma, lung inflammation may be triggered by an allergic response to a substance, which usually develops over time. Inhaling fumes from a lung irritant, such as chlorine, can trigger immediate asthma symptoms in the absence of allergy.
Home Remedies to treat Occupational Asthma
Remedy- 1: Diet for asthma
While there is no evidence that a specific diet or group of foods prevents or treats asthma, improving your overall health through a healthy diet can have a positive effect. Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, which means that your immune system overreacts to non-harmful substances like pollen in your airways. While an inflammatory reaction can help protect you when a dangerous particle enters your body, it can also cause symptoms like swelling in your airways that can restrict your breathing. For this reason, it may help asthma symptoms to eat foods that fight inflammation. “I would recommend a whole food diet that is high in antioxidants, live cultures, and omega-3 fatty acids,”. This type of diet should include:
- Leafy greens like spinach and kale
- Berries like cherries and raspberries
- Whole grains like oats and brown rice
- Fatty fish like salmon and tuna
- Nuts and beans.
- Yogurt, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods
- Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, cola drinks and cocoa. Caffeine is a drug that is very similar to theophylline. Theophylline is a bronchodilator drug that is taken to open up the airways in the lungs and therefore relieve the symptoms of asthma, such as wheezing, coughing and breathlessness. Scientists are interested in finding out whether caffeine has the same effect on the lungs as theophylline.
Product link: Caffeine, Yogurt, Raspberries
Remedy- 2: Yoga
Procedure: Yoga
- Sit in a chair. Relax your neck and shoulders.
- Inhale slowly through your nose to the count of two. Keep your lips puckered, as if you’re about to blow out a candle.
- Exhale slowly through your lips to the count of 4. Release all the air from your lungs.
- Repeat until your breathing returns to normal.
Diaphragmatic breathing:
If you have asthma, your body must work extra hard to breathe. It reduces this effort by opening the airways, strengthening your abdominal muscles, and increasing your lung and heart function. This exercise may help soothe your asthma symptoms.
- Sit in a chair or lie down in bed. Place one hand on your belly so you can feel it moving in and out.
- Inhale slowly through your nose. You should feel your stomach move out, filling with air like a balloon.
- Exhale through pursed lips, two or three times longer than your inhale. Your stomach should move in as the air flows out.
- During this exercise, your chest should stay still. You can place your other hand on your chest to make sure it doesn’t move.
Remedy- 3: Turmeric
Materials: Turmeric
Fermented turmeric preparations, commonly sold as tea products, claim to have higher concentrations of biologically available, or absorbable, curcumin.
Procedure:
- Bring water or milk to a boil.
- Add the other ingredients to the boiling liquid.
- Steep for 10–15 minutes.
Product link: Turmeric
Other Remedies
Pomegranate peel Extract
Pomegranate peel extract is a natural substance sold in dietary supplement form. It is sourced from the peel of the pomegranate fruit. Pomegranate fruit is often touted as a top source of antioxidants including vitamin C. The use of dietary supplements containing pomegranate peel extract is said to provide a large range of health benefits including the treatment of asthma. Pomegranate peel extract contains ellagitannins, which are compounds known to reduce inflammation. This is a very crucial property and serves significantly in asthma treatment.
Green Tea
Green tea is considered by many to be nature’s healthiest beverage and is very rich in antioxidants that would help in asthma treatment. Green Tea is lower in caffeine than other caffeinated beverages and contains the amino acid L-theanine shown to induce relaxation and relieve stress which is one of the major emotional causes of asthma.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a plant said to offer several health benefits. Scientific research suggests that hibiscus tea or hibiscus extracts may offer antioxidant effects and this is significant in the elimination of allergens in asthma treatment.
Preventions
The best way to prevent occupational asthma is to control exposure to chemicals and other substances that workers may be sensitive to or that are irritating. Workplaces can implement better control methods to prevent exposures, use less harmful substances and provide personal protective equipment (PPE) for workers.
Medications may help relieve symptoms and control inflammation associated with occupational asthma. But you can do several things on your own to maintain overall health and lessen the possibility of attacks:
- If you smoke, quit. Being smoke-free may help prevent or lessen symptoms of occupational asthma.
- Get a flu vaccination.This can help prevent illness.
- Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)and other medications that may make symptoms worse.
- Lose weight.For people with obesity, losing weight can help improve symptoms and lung function.
