Sugar Land - Visiting Nurse Assn. Approximately 15 percent of adults with asthma experience occupational asthma.
Occupational asthma is a type of asthma caused by exposure to inhaled irritants in the workplace.
Occupational asthma is often a reversible condition, which means the symptoms may disappear when the irritants that caused the asthma are avoided. However, permanent damage can result if the person experiences prolonged exposure. Sometimes, occupational asthma symptoms do not appear until several hours after the exposure, even while at home after work. At the onset of the disease, symptoms may subside during weekends and vacations. However, during later stages of occupational asthma, asthma symptoms may begin occurring during exposure to other, more common asthma triggers, such as smoke, dust, and temperature changes.