COPD can be quite difficult to deal with, as it makes breathing difficult by blocking airflow. Unfortunately, it can become more of an inconvenience when you’re at work. The symptoms of COPD such as shortness of breath, wheezing, and chronic cough can impair you and become a distraction while at work. It shouldn’t have to be an inconvenience at your place of work – and it doesn’t have to be. Our experts at Oxygen Always can fill you in on some useful tips on how to manage your COPD at work.
Workplace Accommodations
First things first: assess if there’s anything at the workplace aggravating your COPD. When it comes to managing COPD at work, you must remove any irritants that can trigger its symptoms. Ask your employer to make any adjustments to the workplace environment to help reduce triggering your COPD symptoms. This can include assigning a parking spot closer to the door, enforcing a smoke-free environment, allowing you to work remotely a few days a week, ensuring the workplace has adequate ventilation, etc. Also, speak with your supervisor about having a humidifier in your work area to reduce mold and dust in the air around you.
Personal Hygiene & Portable Oxygen Concentrators
Since your employer would be making appropriate modifications to the workplace for your COPD, it’s also important to do your part to not trigger any symptoms. Keep your hands clean and away from your face to reduce inhaling germs that can exacerbate your COPD. If a co-worker is sick, keep a safe distance to reduce catching an illness. Go the extra mile by staying up to date with vaccines for the flu and pneumonia to keep from complicating your COPD.1
Bring along your portable oxygen concentrator to help with breathing easier at work. The Inogen One G3 is a great first choice as it can be used while the battery charges. If you’re looking for a lightweight portable oxygen concentrator, the AirSep Focus offers the convenience of being compact and portable, so that it won’t take up space in your work area.
Resignation
Quitting your job due to your COPD may be a hard pill to swallow; however, your health should come first. Leaving your job in relation to your COPD may be financially detrimental because it can affect your pension benefits and the welfare of you and your family. Before you decide to retire from your job, consult your healthcare physician first to see if you should take this measure. Be open with him/her about the preventive steps you and your employer performed to help your COPD. Explain the accommodations made for your respiratory health at work and the use of your portable oxygen concentrator, so that your doctor can determine if you should ultimately resign from your job.
COPD shouldn’t take over your life, particularly in the workplace. Taking these preventive and helpful steps should make working with COPD possible. If you have any further questions about working with COPD or our inventory, contact us for expert advice.
Sources:
[1] Center for Disease Control and Prevention – Adults with Chronic Conditions: Get Vaccinated
