About this session
Respiratory symptoms are common, but it is not always obvious when they can be managed at home and when they deserve professional attention.
A cough after a cold, occasional congestion, or mild breathlessness during exertion may settle on its own, while new, persistent, worsening, or unexplained symptoms may need further assessment.
This session helps participants make more confident decisions without encouraging self-diagnosis.
They explore practical signs such as changes in everyday activity, recurring wheeze, nighttime symptoms, repeated infections, persistent cough, workplace exposures, and breathlessness that is different from their usual pattern.
The focus is on knowing what to notice, what information to bring to a healthcare conversation, and when not to wait. Participants leave with clearer boundaries between everyday self-management, routine healthcare, workplace support, and urgent respiratory care.
What your people take away
- Recognize respiratory symptoms that can often be monitored versus those that need professional review
- Identify meaningful changes in cough, wheeze, breathlessness, chest symptoms, sleep, and exercise tolerance
- Understand how duration, severity, recurrence, and associated symptoms can change the level of concern
- Learn when workplace exposure or environmental conditions should be raised with occupational health or health and safety
- Prepare useful information and questions for a healthcare appointment
- Recognize symptoms that require urgent or emergency medical attention
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- What each length covers, 30 minutes to full day
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What each length covers
30 minutes
30 Minutes — Key Points: Decide What Needs AttentionA focused 30-minute session on three key points from Decide What Needs Attention: start with what is normal for you, look at how long the symptom has lasted and notice what comes with it.
- Start with what is normal for you
- Look at how long the symptom has lasted
- Notice what comes with it
Covers 3 of 4 points in Decide What Needs Attention.
60 minutes
Know When to ActA practical introduction to recognizing changes from your usual respiratory pattern, knowing what can be monitored, when to seek routine support, and when symptoms should not wait.
- Module 1 — Decide What Needs Attention
- Live Q&A
Covers 1 of 4 parts: Decide What Needs Attention.
90 minutes
Understand Patterns, Triggers & EscalationThe extended session adds more detail on recurring symptoms, nighttime breathing, infections, environmental exposure, existing respiratory conditions, and preparing for clinical review.
- Module 1 — Decide What Needs Attention
- Module 2 — Know Which Type of Support Makes Sense
- Live Q&A
Covers 2 of 4 parts: Decide What Needs Attention and Know Which Type of Support Makes Sense.
3 hours
Covers 3 of 4 parts: Decide What Needs Attention, Know Which Type of Support Makes Sense and Prepare for a Better Respiratory Healthcare Conversation.
Full day
Build a Practical Respiratory Support PlanThe full-day format covers all four modules with additional work around symptom mapping, activity changes, workplace exposure, healthcare preparation, existing action plans, and escalation decisions.
- Module 1 — Decide What Needs Attention
- Module 2 — Know Which Type of Support Makes Sense
- Module 3 — Prepare for a Better Respiratory Healthcare Conversation
- Module 4 — Recognize When Respiratory Symptoms Need Urgent Help
- Respiratory Symptom Pattern Map
- Everyday Activity Change Review
- Healthcare Conversation Planner
- Respiratory Support & Escalation Action Sheet
- Live Q&A
Covers all 4 parts.
What’s covered
Decide What Needs Attention
Every length- Start with what is normal for youParticipants think about their usual breathing, cough, exercise tolerance, sleep, and response to everyday activities such as stairs or walking.
- Look at how long the symptom has lastedA short-lived symptom associated with a mild infection may need a different response from a cough, wheeze, or breathlessness that keeps returning or does not improve.
- Notice what comes with itFever, chest discomfort, wheeze, fatigue, coughing up blood, dizziness, unexplained weight loss, swelling, or significant sleep disruption can change the importance of a respiratory symptom.
- Check whether everyday function has changedSymptoms deserve more attention when normal activities such as walking, climbing stairs, talking, sleeping, or completing work tasks become noticeably harder.
Know Which Type of Support Makes Sense
90 minutes and longer- Some symptoms can start with self-managementMild congestion, a short-lived cough after a straightforward respiratory infection, or known allergy symptoms may sometimes improve with rest, hydration, exposure reduction, and usual self-care.
- Routine healthcare is appropriate for persistent or recurring problemsRepeated wheeze, ongoing cough, recurring infections, nighttime symptoms, or gradually worsening breathlessness deserve proper assessment.
- Pharmacists can be a useful first stepPharmacists can help with common respiratory and allergy symptoms, over-the-counter treatment questions, inhaler technique in some settings, and advice about when further medical review is needed.
- Workplace support may be part of the solutionSymptoms linked with dust, fumes, mold, poor ventilation, cleaning products, or particular work tasks may need occupational rather than purely personal action.
Prepare for a Better Respiratory Healthcare Conversation
3 hours and longer- Describe the symptom in practical termsRather than simply saying "I get breathless" or "I have a bad cough," participants learn to describe when symptoms happen, what brings them on, how long they last, and what activities are affected.
- Bring the timelineParticipants practice thinking through when the problem began, whether it came on suddenly or gradually, and whether it is improving, stable, or worsening.
- Include relevant contextSmoking history, allergies, asthma, recent infection, workplace exposure, medication use, travel, and other health conditions may all provide useful context.
- Ask clear questions about next stepsParticipants prepare questions such as whether testing is needed, what changes should trigger faster review, whether activity is safe, and when follow-up should happen.
Recognize When Respiratory Symptoms Need Urgent Help
Full day only- Severe breathing difficulty should not waitSomeone who is struggling severely to breathe, gasping, unable to speak normally, or rapidly deteriorating needs urgent medical help.
- Chest pain or significant deterioration changes the pictureBreathing difficulty accompanied by chest pain, collapse, confusion, bluish discoloration, or sudden severe weakness may indicate a medical emergency.
- Coughing up blood needs appropriate assessmentBlood in sputum can have several causes and should not simply be ignored or attributed to irritation without proper review.
- Follow existing action plans for diagnosed conditionsPeople with asthma, COPD, or another respiratory diagnosis may already have individualized instructions for worsening symptoms.
Who it’s for
- Employees who want clearer guidance on when respiratory symptoms need professional attention
- People managing recurring cough, wheeze, breathlessness, or sleep-related breathing problems
- Teams with workplace dust, fumes, ventilation, or environmental exposure concerns
- Anyone preparing for a healthcare appointment about breathing or lung symptoms
- Workplace wellbeing programs focused on symptom recognition, escalation, and safe self-management boundaries
How booking works
- Book online. Create a free Workbliss profile, then pay with session credits, by card or by invoice.
- Pick a date. Choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or book now and set the date later.
- Choose your expert. Within 3 working days, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date.
- We deliver it. Your expert is briefed on your people and goals, then runs the session live online or at your site.
Questions about Know When to Seek Respiratory Support
How long is Know When to Seek Respiratory Support?
Know When to Seek Respiratory Support runs as 30 minutes, 60 minutes, 90 minutes, 3 hours or full day. You choose the length when you book. A 30-minute session covers three key points from Decide What Needs Attention: start with what is normal for you, look at how long the symptom has lasted and notice what comes with it. A 60-minute session covers Decide What Needs Attention in full, with a live Q&A. A 90-minute session adds Know Which Type of Support Makes Sense. A 3-hour session adds Prepare for a Better Respiratory Healthcare Conversation. A full-day session adds Recognize When Respiratory Symptoms Need Urgent Help.
Can Know When to Seek Respiratory Support be delivered online or in person?
Yes, both. It runs live online, so every office can join at the same time, or in person at your site, in any country.
How do we book Know When to Seek Respiratory Support?
Create a free Workbliss profile with your work email, then open Know When to Seek Respiratory Support to see the price for each length and book it. You can pay with session credits, by card or by invoice, and choose a date at least 14 days ahead, or set it later.
Who leads the session?
A vetted Workbliss expert, briefed on your people, culture and goals before the session. After you book, we send you profiles of the experts available for your date within 3 working days, so you can choose who leads it.
Can it be tailored to our company?
Yes. Every session is shaped around your goals, your people and the benefits you already offer, and delivered by experts in your people’s languages.