# 

# JAN’S ACCOMMODATION FACT SHEET SERIES

**Job Accommodations for People**

**with Heart Conditions**

# The term “heart condition” includes conditions such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, and congenital cardiovascular impairments.  Each type of heart condition has its own symptoms, which may include angina (chest pain sometimes radiating down the left arm or into the jaw); sensations of fluttering, thumping, pounding, or racing of the heart (palpitations); edema (swelling and fluid retention in the legs, ankles, abdomen, lungs, or heart); lightheadedness, weakness, dizziness, or fainting spells; breathlessness; chronic fatigue; and gastric upset (or nausea). 

The following is a quick overview of some of the job accommodations that might be useful for people with heart conditions. For a more in depth discussion, access JAN's publications at http://askjan.org/media/atoz.htm.  To discuss an accommodation situation with a consultant, contact JAN directly.

# Fatigue/Weakness:

· Reduce or eliminate physical exertion

· Schedule periodic rest breaks away from the workstation

· Allow a flexible work schedule and flexible use of leave time

· Allow work from home

· Implement ergonomic workstation design

· Provide a scooter or other mobility aid if walking cannot be reduced

· Provide parking close to the work-site 

· Install automatic door openers 

· Move workstation close to other work areas, office equipment, and break rooms

· Provide mechanical assists and lifting aids

# Respiratory Difficulties: 

· Provide adjustable ventilation 

· Keep work environment free from dust, smoke, odor, and fumes 

· Implement a "fragrance-free" workplace policy and a “smoke-free” building policy

· Avoid temperature extremes 

· Use fan/air-conditioner or heater at the workstation

· Redirect air-conditioning and heating vents

· Provide adequate exhaust systems to remove fumes from office machines

· Allow individual to wear a respirator mask

· Allow work from home

**Seizure Activity and Blackouts:**

· Eliminate the need to use sharp objects

· Eliminate blinking and flickering lights

· Replace fluorescent lighting with full spectrum or natural lighting

· Use computer monitor glare guards, adjust monitor intensity and color, and decrease 

the cursor speed of the mouse

· Provide protective clothing/equipment 

· Modify job tasks requiring fine finger dexterity

· Allow flexible work hours, periodic rest breaks, and work from home

# Stress: 

# · Develop strategies to deal with work problems before they arise 

# · Provide sensitivity training to coworkers 

# · Allow telephone calls during work hours to doctors and others for support 

· Provide information on counseling and employee assistance programs

· Reduce workplace stress 

# Temperature Sensitivity: 

· Modify work-site temperature and dress code 

· Use fan/air-conditioner or heater at the workstation

· Allow flexible scheduling and flexible use of leave time

· Allow work from home during extremely hot or cold weather 

· Maintain the ventilation system and redirect air conditioning and heating vents 

· Provide an office with separate temperature control

**Resources Specifically for People with Heart Conditions**

**American Heart Association**

7272 Greenville Avenue

Dallas, TX 75231

Toll Free: (800)AHA-USA1

Direct: (800)242-8721

http://www.americanheart.org

**National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute**

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Bethesda, MD 20892-2580

Direct: (301)592-8573

TTY: (240)629-3255

Fax: (240)629-3246

nhlbiinfo@nhlbi.nih.gov

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov

Updated 3/23/10.

This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL079RP20426). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Fact Sheet Series

Job Accommodations for People with Heart Conditions