What do you want to be when you grow up? We all have faced that question at some point in our lives. Some people have a clear answer from an early age, while others spend years and years trying to figure it out and yet have no clue about what to do. There’s nothing wrong with that, as learning about ourselves and our purpose in life is one of humanity’s greatest mysteries. However, when we envision our favourite jobs, it’s easy for us to idealize what they consist of and omit any related flaws.
Certain professions entail health risks; some are obvious, whereas others can go unnoticed. For instance, mining is notoriously known for causing different lung diseases like pneumoconiosis, the so-called ‘black lung,’ resulting from the continued exposure to coal dust. In contrast, not everybody knows that having an office job that leaves you sitting most of the time puts you at a higher risk for heart disease unless you work out regularly and follow a healthy diet.
Such a lack of awareness often occurs with those professional roles that can trigger sinus problems. That’s why we want to give you a hand by introducing you to the top worst jobs for sinusitis sufferers. Let’s take a look at them:
Scuba divers
“I’d like to be under the sea, in an octopus’s garden, in the shade.” Ringo Starr, the legendary member of ‘The Beatles’, highlighted the magic of being under the sea in ‘Octopus’s garden,’ one of his most famous songs. Nevertheless, Ringo sure didn’t think of those who make a living out of scuba diving, which can lead to many ear, nose, and throat conditions because of the pressure and gas volume changes when descending and ascending in the water.
Flight attendants
There seems to be no place to ‘hide’ from sinus infections from the sea to the sky. When traveling by plane, more than a few people experience an excruciating pain that radiates from the cheeks, under the eyes, jaws, and ears, and the nasal blockage often accompanies that. Well, now imagine that you were at 30.000 feet pretty much every day… how would you cope with that? Activities involving temperature changes can provoke sinusitis problems, so here’s why flight attendants are more prone to such a struggle.
Pilots
Without exaggerating, sinusitis has ruined some pilots’ careers, especially in those cases where the individuals had already had sinus afflictions in the past. In general, aviation doesn’t ‘mix’ well with sinus-related issues, considering the high responsibility inherent to the pilots’ role. Obviously, any problems need to be properly diagnosed and treated so that such professionals can keep working at their best.
Bakers
Who would frankly suspect that bakery could be a sinusitis-provoking occupation? Well, let’s shed some light on it. Bakers are exposed to flour dust and enzymes present in dough associated with asthma and allergic reactions. Actually, health authorities advise against raising ‘clouds’ of flour dust or sweeping up, which can worsen the symptoms.
Auto-body repairers
The automobile industry is also linked to asthma issues, affecting those who work in the auto-body repair field. Why is it so? Because these people are in touch with products containing isocyanate or polyurethane, chemicals that can irritate the mucous membranes and the skin, as well as breathing difficulties. That’s why these professionals must follow security protocols by wearing goggles, respirators, and gloves.
To sum up, if somebody ‘bombards’ you with questions or suggestions about what you should do, ‘clichés’ like “get a job, get a life,” remember that you can take it almost literally. Get a job but, if possible, a ‘healthy’ one… if there’s such a thing. Otherwise, be cautious and minimize potential risks by trying natural products instead of overusing over-the-counter medications.
Do you suffer from any health condition due to your profession? What do you do about it?
