Coping with COPD: Making the Return to Work

Coping with COPD: Making the Return to Work

When suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), returning to work may be the furthest thing from your mind. Flare-ups and other symptoms may make a “normal” life seem almost impossible, but keeping your normal routine for as long as possible is something you should aim for.

If you have had an exacerbation or ‘flare-up’ or have even been in hospital and been unable to work as a result of your COPD, you should consider your overall health before going back to the workplace. These considerations vary from worker to worker; some will take longer to recover and feel fit enough to go back to the workplace. You should not return until you feel readyto be able to carry out all of your tasks effectively.

Working for as long as you are able with a diagnosis of COPD provides not only a daily routine but will improve your financial, social and psychological wellbeing as well as your physical health. However, if your job requires extensive physical activity, modifications may be required or you may need to request a move if possible to a less physical job. (link to case study 1)

Your doctor can help you decide if your job is too strenuous or if there is a possibility that the work environment may affect your lung condition. Workplace environments that expose workers to inhaled irritants such as gases, fumes and dust, extreme temperatures and work at higher altitudes may be advisable to avoid for those workers with moderate to severe COPD.

Speaking with your employer is also a good idea, as they will need to be aware that at times you will not always be able to perform to you full capacity. They should be aware that will sometimes need time to rest and take inhaled medications during the working day.

By making lifestyle and activity changes, you can take an active role in managing your COPD and improving your physical and emotional health. Returning to work is a part of this. This should occur gradually, as symptoms improve, and should never be pushed past your comfort level. Life with COPD varies from worker to worker, and coping is no different.

Working with COPD

Once you’ve been diagnosed with COPD you may ask whether you can still work? The diagnosis of COPD can be a devastating condition having major effects on your personal and social life, but if you are of working age then it can have an even greater impact on your job.

Work-loss for employees with COPD is associated with many factors, not just COPD. This is because, for many people, COPD is not their only significant health problem. COPD can be associated with other health problems that can make the impact of the disease far more severe than just having COPD alone.

Results from a cross-sectional survey of 2,426 people with COPD living and working in 6 countries around the world (Brazil, China, Germany, Turkey, United States and United Kingdom) revealed the following:

•80% were unable to maintain their previous lifestyle.

•One in four felt they could not continue to care for their children or other members of their family as they once did.

•One in five felt they had become a burden to family members and friends.

•41% felt they could no longer plan for their future.

•37% reported their income had dropped since being diagnosed.

If you've been diagnosed with COPD and you are still working, the first thing you should do is ask yourself if your job is going to make your condition worse? If the answer to this question is yes, you may want to consider leaving the workplace.

If, on the other hand, your job will have little impact on your disease and you choose to continue working, talk to your employer as soon as possible about making any necessary, workplace adjustments that will make it easier for you to do your job. Explain to your employer that making adjustments in the workplace will ultimately mean fewer work days missed as a result of your illness.

Here are just a few accommodations that employers can make that are not overly imposing:

•Providing an accessible parking space that is close to the door.

•Moving your workstation closer to the entrance of the building.

•Allowing you to work from home at least a couple of days a week, if not every day.

•Providing a smoke-free, dust-free, fume-free environment. This can even mean asking other employees not to wear heavy colognes or perfumes.

•Providing adequate ventilation.

•Allowing you a flexible schedule so that you don't miss your doctor appointments or perhaps letting you come in later on certain days.

•Giving you advanced notification of any dusty work such as construction or cleaning that will be going on in your particular work area.

•Allowing you to use a mobility scooter if appropriate to increase your mobility while in the workplace or to move from one office building to the next during work hours.

What your employer probably fears most about your disease is that it will affect your job productivity. To keep up your end of the bargain, you may also want to consider:

•Doing everything you can to prevent having an exacerbation or ‘flare-up’ of your COPD. This can cause you to miss more days of work, or even lead to a hospital admission. Frequent hand washing particularly after you’ve blown your nose, staying away from crowds and sick people and having a influenza vaccine every year can all help with prevention.

•Wearing your oxygen at work helps prevent breathlessness, improves your mental alertness and increases your stamina so you can get through your work day more effectively (link to using O2at work).

•Is It Time to Retire?

People with COPD are more likely to accept early retirement than those who do not have COPD. If you are forced to leave your job early, this can negatively impact your pension benefits and have a dramatic affect on your financial well-being, as well as that of your family.

If you are considering early retirement, talk to your health care provider first, to make sure you are doing all you can to stay in the workplace as long as possible. Perhaps it is only a matter of utilizing oxygen therapy in the workplace, or, trying a different medication that will help reduce your breathlessness.

Once you and your doctor have discussed your options, it is a good idea to speak with someone in your human resources department before making a final decision or seek the advice of an independent financial advisor.

Tip for Workers with COPD or other breathing problems

Unless you have a lung disease, you may not notice all the little tasks around your office or workplace that can drain your energy. The stress and physical demands of commuting, carrying heavy books or papers, and sitting for hours at a desk or computer can all demand energy. Consider these ideas for pacing yourself and rethinking how you work.

¨ Take rests from talking! Using your voice can be tiring for people with breathing problems.

¨ Request a handicapped parking space, if there is a long walk from the parking lot to your office.

¨ Use a rolling briefcase or folding luggage cart to transport work items to and from your office.

¨ Keep your arms supported when using your hands for writing or computer work. Rest your forearms on your desk.

¨ Put items you use most in drawers or shelves that are between waist and shoulder level, so you don't have to bend down or reach up.

If your job requires physical exertion:

¨ Avoid lifting and bending as much as you can. Roll, push, pull, or slide objects instead.

¨ Learn pursed lip breathing techniques and use them before exerting yourself.

¨ Lift with your legs, use both hands, and carry things close to your body.

¨ Avoid rapid, jerky arm motions as this can cause shortness of breath and fatigue.

¨ Maintain good posture. Using your body properly saves energy.

¨ If you can, do the most strenuous activities at a time of day when you have the most energy.

¨ Break big jobs into smaller steps. Or put a restful activity between strenuous activities.

¨ Use slow, deep breathing during exertion to minimize breathlessness.