Author Archives: Jackie Aim

Checks before you start exercise or activity

Inhaler

Check with your GP or asthma nurse for any limits or precautions you should be aware of before you exercise. It is important to seek medical advice prior to starting any new sports/gym activities. If your asthma is well controlled there should be no reason why you can’t exercise or be more active.
If you have had exercise induced asthma in the past, check which exercises and activities would be best to start with.
Be ready by taking your inhalers ten minutes before you exercise and take your reliever inhaler with you. Take your preventer inhaler as prescribed.
Take extra care if you are recovering from an infection or attack.
Don’t eat for two hours before you exercise.
Take a bottle of water and a mobile phone with you if you are going outdoors.
If you are going to an exercise class, make sure you tell the instructor that you have asthma and that you may need to stop and rest. Show them your asthma plan if you have one.
Start gently and build up gradually. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise every day. To start with you don’t have to do this all at once.
Plan exercise and activity into your daily life. Try to do exercises and activities which you enjoy and add some variety if you can.

Why exercise and sport are good for people with asthma

Exercise is important for everyone and the good news for people with asthma is that it is good for you too.

Benefits of exercise:

Improves lung capacity.
Manage your symptoms better.
Easier to manage daily tasks.
Increase your confidence.
Less fear of breathlessness.
Good for social contact with others.
Lift your mood.
Improve strength, posture and flexibility.
Improve sleep and appetite.
Helps to manage your weight.

If you have to think about giving up work

If it is not possible for you to continue working because of your asthma this can be devastating. Discuss your health with your GP first. Give yourself time to think about all your options before you decide. Get as much information as you can before you make a decision.

Would your employer offer voluntary redundancy?
Would your employer offer early retirement? This could affect your pension.
What income would you be entitled to if you apply for state benefits? You would need to seek individual help to find this out as it depends on your personal circumstances. The benefits system is not only very complex but it is also being reviewed by the government and is likely to change. Some benefits depend on the amount of national insurance contributions you have made and others are means tested (i.e. on your assets). If you have other income or savings this can also affect your entitlement to state benefits. You can get more information from Citizens Advice Bureau – Benefits for people who are sick or disabled or the Department of work and pensions website.

ACAS – Promoting employment relations and HR excellence

Change of job or role

If you think you can no longer work in your current job you may have to think about other options.

An alternative role within the same workplace? For example if you work outside at a warehouse could you change to an indoor job?
Could you change to a role away from the environment which is making your asthma worse? For example away from fumes, dust or extreme changes of temperature?
Could you change your role to include fewer responsibilities if stress is a contributing factor for your health?
Do you have other skills or experience which you could use in a different role. For example instructing junior staff or supervising others using your knowledge and experience?

Your working day

Staff in open plan office, speaking on telephone.

Depending on your job there may be some flexibility to change your working day. You need to discuss options with your employer. Some employers may have more flexibility than others for example if you work for a small local company or a large national or international company the opportunities for flexibility can be different.

Can you change your working hours?

Flexi time?
Start later and finish later if your asthma is worse in the mornings?
Some companies offer condensed hours so you would work the same hours per week but over fewer days.
Could you reduce your hours or work part time?
Could you job share with someone else?
Could you work from home on some or all days?
Change from shift work to day time hours?
Could you negotiate time off for GP or hospital appointments? Time during the day to use your inhalers. There is no statutory right to this time off. You should have a written policy to cover these situations or your employer can give discretionary leave on an individual basis.

Practical options to discuss with your employer

There may be practical options available which could help make your working day easier and allow your employer to keep an experienced member of staff.

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Parking. Could you get a parking space closer to the entrance? The Blue Badge scheme is for drivers or passengers with severe mobility problems. The scheme provides a range of on-street parking concessions enabling Blue Badge holders to park closer to where they need to go. The scheme does not apply to off-street car parking, in privately operated car parks. You must apply for a Blue Badge to the Scottish local authority in which you are resident.
Environment. Can you make your work area smoke, dust and fume free? Can the temperature in your area be adjusted? Do you have adequate ventilation or are you allowed to have a small desk fan? Would protective clothing help?
Facilities. Do you and work colleagues have access to good hand washing areas to help prevent spread of colds and flu? Is there a separate room where you could work at times when other workers are unwell with colds? Do you have somewhere to go in private when you need to clear your chest or take a short rest?
Your work desk. Does your chair have armrests? Is your desk the right height for your posture? Can you comfortably rest both forearms on your desk? Do you need to reorganise your work space to avoid heavy lifting, bending or reaching overhead?

Control your fatigue

Confidence, coping and control

Once you know how to pace yourself, set goals and control your fatigue you will start to feel:

Confident that you are going to be able to do the tasks which are important to you.

In control of your day, your mind and asthma.

Coping well on days when you feel good and coping with the days when you don’t feel so good.

The key is knowing when to rest and when to be active within the limits of your asthma. Aim to increase your activity and exercise over time to cope better with your fatigue. If you are having difficulty with this speak to your GP, practice nurse or respiratory specialist there are lots of ways they can help.