Allergies at work – how to control symptoms

Allergies can lead to poor productivity
and missed work days, experts say.

Allergies are on the rise, and economists are warning about the impact they have on a company’s bottom line.

A study published in Current Research and Opinion reported that about 55 percent of employees experienced hay fever symptoms for an average of 52.5 days and they missed an average of 3.6 days per year because of their allergies.

During the allergy seasons, they could be unproductive for about 2.3 hours per workday because of their symptoms.

A different study, published in the American Journal of Managed Care, estimated that allergies cost companies more than $601 million in total lost productivity each year.

Lost productivity and missed work days were common when it came to allergies because the symptoms could be pretty rough on workers.

Beside sniffling and sneezing (which workers might have been able to ignore), many employees suffer from sore throats, headaches, sinus infections, itchy eyes, fatigue and general malaise.

According to allergists, many workers could treat their allergies more aggressively to prevent these symptoms from interfering with their work.

Treatment possibilities include

• Begin taking medications earlier: Instead of waiting for allergy symptoms to become almost unbearable, taking allergy medications earlier can help prevent complications. Earlier means a few weeks before allergy season starts.
    
• Stick with your meds: Some medications (like nasal sprays) take up to five days to be effective, so stopping after a few days won’t do. Ask your health care provider if nothing seems to be working.
    
• Don’t forget nights: A good night’s sleep is important for productivity and well-being. Experts suggest taking an antihistamine at night. Opt for one that can make you drowsy.
    
• Keep eye drops handy: Prescription antihistamine eye drops can help control symptoms when you first feel an itch coming on.
    
• Use an air purifier to control airborne allergens and pollen: Keeping an air purifier with a HEPA filter in the bedroom and at work can help control exposure to allergens and other pollutants.

Source: Fox News

Air cleaners for the office and home

Electrocorp offers highly efficient and portable air purifiers for those suffering from allergies and asthma.

They can be used in the office or at home and they provide maximum particle and allergen control with the best HEPA filters as well as deep-bed activated carbon filters and other filters to remove pollutants that might cause or aggravate allergic symptoms.

Contact Electrocorp for more information and options.