Hi
I got diagnosed with asthma a month ago I used to work in air conditoning building and pretty much every day I used to come home being ill. This is frightening as I am a healthy person, I exercise everyday and eat healthy but as soon as I go anywhere near air conditioning my asthma triggers off I dont know what to do I feel very depressed. I am now on inhalers but even then as soon as I go near AC I become ill. Can anyone suggest anything?
If you have to work in a building with air conditioning I'd first check when it was last cleaned and maintained. Some companies don't have regular mainetnance of AC and dust can accumulate. My son was diagnosed with dust mite allergy last year and he works in an airconditioned room. Since it has been cleaned, filter changed etc he reacts a lot less to it at work. He also takes daily antihistamines prescribed by his GP.
Some people with asthma react to the cold air from them. It can be difficult tracking down what, if anything triggers an asthma attack. Obviously avoiding triggers is important, but so is adequate medication for dealing with an attack. Maybe you could speak to the Occupational Health at work? Or ask your manager about Occupational Health referral? Also your GP or Asthma nurse might be able to help you manage. Hope you find a way of managing it.
It's odds on that you are having an allergic response to something in the system. I notice that you said you used to work in an air-conditioned office - are you working somewhere else now?
If you are still exposed to AC, then I agree with strongmouse that getting them to make sure it is properly serviced & cleaned is important (to everyone in the office in fact, not just asthmatics). AC units can be breeding grounds for all manner of nasties (dust, Aspergillus, legionella & so on). If you are getting very rapid onset of symptoms from short, non-work exposure to AC, I would raise that with your GP as it sounds like something a little more than a normal allergic response.
Hi,
Did you only first experience air conditioning at your work? or Had you been in air conditioning before this and it didn't affect you?
Air-con usually helps asthma symptoms, but as has been said, if it's not working properly then it can cause trouble. I once owned a car car that had air-con, and when this was switched on it certainly caused me problems. In a car it's easy enough to run a cleaner through the system, and change the filter. If a building air-con is provoking symptoms then that's more of an issue, for you certainly, but more generally too. Air-con is great but if it's not properly maintained then it can become a health hazard for the wider population. I'd say it's back to the GP as your first step.
Air conditioning dehumidifies, the moisture from this collects under the evaporators and invariably some mould will grow there so its possible you are allergic to mould, but as mentioned above there are other triggers from air con.
Over the years I find working with air conditioning seems to dry everyone's throat and effects sinuses but for asthmatics it irritates airways causes coughing .
Thank you all for your replies, I have handed in my notice at work as I couldnt deal with the ac environment as everyday I would be ill. I did once work in ac environment long time ago and I noticed that made me unwell too but luckily I was there for afew months. Maybe the ac hasnt been filtered I am not sure. I used to tell the management there who didnt do anything about my illness.
sorry to hear that you had to leave a job.I am also working in the strong ac environment and diagnosed with Asthma. It's really frustrating and tough decision to move anyway best luck for your new job.Take care
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