How come others don't take my health seriously?
Question:
I don't expect anyone to cater to me but I feel as if I'm being rude when I stay away from smoke or ask others to step outside. What should I do?
Answers:
You have to take care of yourself and continue being watchful about your surroundings. I do things that I shouldn't only when I can't avoid it. I find myself in cigarette smoke, dust, air pollution, etc... because that's life (I'm not being insensitive as I have asthma too). Sometimes it's completely unavoidable. When that's the situation, I use my rescue inhaler ahead of time, when I know that I will have a problem in that environment otherwise. My asthma is pretty mild, so this works for me. I figure that using a couple extra treatments of Salbutamol (Albuterol) is far less expensive than me being miserable for a couple hours hacking away.
Logically, if something happens in your place of work that results in your injury or death, do you think they will have to pay for it? If their smoking and general disregard for other people puts you in the hospital or six feet under, then I think they should have to pay for it. Maybe, if you bring that to the attention of your employer, they may actually do something to correct the situation. They can't fire you for having a health condition alone. If they try, they break the law.
There is a point where being socially acceptable can harm your health for someone with asthma around smokers. Which do you want: friends or usable lungs? That's how I see it. Maybe an alternative venue for social gatherings could be found, one that is smoke-free? If your friends are aware of what happens when you are exposed to smokers, they are not your friend to keep smoking around you. It's like people allergic to peanuts. Someone might think it's unfair to make all peanut products banned in a certain place, but they are probably happy to do it so that someone doesn't die.
It sounds like you are exposed to an asthma trigger often enough to make your situation worse. That could explain why your lung function is decreasing.
As compared to last year at this time, my breathing is worse. I was diagnosed with asthma last September and medicated for it since. The hot and humid days lately have been making it very risky for me to go outside. I didn't have that problem last year. Our conditions change with time and new situations. Next year, I might be fine to go outside on hot days.
Take care of yourself.
Write your state legislature and ask them for a total ban on public smoking (i.e. restaurants, office, apartment complexes) except for specified areas. Many states are passing legislation recognizing second-hand smoke as toxic. Good luck.
you do have control; leave the party and if it is at work your employer is now required to provide a smoke free work place.
my 2 kids have the same situation and one recenlty spent 2 weeks in the hospital and was very very ill becuase of it.
i do not allow smoke to be around them, ever. if they don't follow my request to put it out then we leave and if it is something i paid money for i get a refund first or demand the business makes them put it out. Yes i can seem to be a jerk about it but when you almost lose your childs life to something like this you don't say things like "i can't control it". that is a cop out and you chose not to control it. grow up.
I would probably stop hanging out with your friends and possibly look for another job. My family doesn't take my asthma seriously either but thankfully I don't live with them.
You shouldn't feel rude since these people are actually hurting you. Asking them not to smoke around you or to step outside isn't that big of a deal and if they really care about your well being they wouldn't give you a hard time about it.
I understand what you're going through. My coworkers, luckily, seem to be understanding about the smoke issue. I have the same concern about feeling rude by avoiding it. Happened just recently too. I was at a wedding and most of my coworkers were near smokers or were smokers themselves. I told them it was too smoky over there so I had to sit further away. They didn't seem to mind as far as I knew...
Is there any coworker you can confide in and trust? One girl I work with is a smoker, but I've confided in her and she actually tries to provide great distance when she wants to have a cigarette.
Have your coworkers actually witnessed you have an attack? It actually might shake them up a bit if they saw how serious it can be. The girl who is very sensitive about the smoking has witnessed me when I've been struggling with my asthma, so that might add to her understanding. However, I'm not telling you to force an attack or put yourself in harms way so one occurs. But maybe explain what happens to a coworker you trust and can confide in. I've found that being very open about what happens has helped build understanding. Asthma is really misunderstood and it's really up to us to break down the misconceptions. Asthma is different for everyone - not all attacks are the same and not everyone has the same triggers or responses. Some people wheeze, while others mostly cough. Symptoms may vary and you have no idea why. All you know is your body is reacting to some trigger and you have to do your best to keep yourself and these attacks under control.
You're not alone so I wouldn't worry there. I'd just find one or 2 coworkers you can trust and really open up to them about how you feel.
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