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Medical Author:

George Schiffman, MD, FCCP

George Schiffman, MD, FCCP

Dr. Schiffman received his B.S. degree with High Honors in biology from Hobart College in 1976. He then moved to Chicago where he studied biochemistry at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle. He attended Rush Medical College where he received his M.D. degree in 1982 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed his Internal Medicine internship and residency at the University of California, Irvine.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In most people with occupational asthma, the symptoms appear a short time after beginning work and subside after leaving work.

• Many have no symptoms or milder symptoms on days they do not work. The symptoms return when they return to work.



• In some, the symptoms worsen gradually over the work week, go away over the weekend, and return when the new work week starts.



• In others, the symptoms are slow to develop and may not be noticed until after leaving work for the day. This pattern makes it difficult to recognize a workplace trigger.



• In the later stages of the disease, after long-term regular exposure, symptoms may not go away after you leave the workplace.

These are the most common symptoms of occupational asthma. Most people do not have all these symptoms.

• Coughing



• Wheezing



• Chest tightness



• Chest pain



• Prolonged shortness of breath



• Extreme fatigue

Allergy symptoms that occur at work but get better away from work also may be a sign of irritants in the air that could provoke asthma symptoms. The following symptoms could occur:

• Eyes: itchy, burning, or watery



• Nose: itchy or stuffy, sneezing



• Skin: itchy, red, or irritated

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