Occupational Lung Disease

Working in certain industries can be hazardous to the staff. This can have a serious effect on the health of that worker and result in serious health and especially, lung disease. These can include working in areas where you breathe in particles of dust, granite cement, flour and brick etc.

Pneumoconiosis i.e. Black Lung Disease, Anthracosis or Coal Workers Pneumoconiosis (CWP)

This is an Occupational Lung Disease caused by inhaling coal dust. There is no known treatment.

Symptoms
• Chronic cough
• Shortness of breath


Possible Complications
• Cor Pulmonale (Failure of the
  right side of the heart)
• Lung Cancer
• Pulmonary TB
• Respiratory Failure

Asbestosis

Abestosis is a chronic inflamatory medical condition affecting the parenchyma of the lungs. It occurs after long term exposure (20 to 30 years) to asbestos in mining. Thickening of the chest wall causing shortness of breath and suffocation. A honeycomb lung is present.

Silicosis

Silicosis is a form of Pnemoconiosis caused by the inhalation of silica dust, the second most common mineral on earth. It is marked by inflamation and scaring in forms of nodular lessions in the upper lobes of the lungs. Onset of detectable silicosis is approximately 10 years from exposure or as little as 2 years following massive exposure.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium Tuberculosis which usually manifests in the lungs destroying parts of the lungs and causing difficulty in breathing Routine Chest X-rays will keep TB under control in the work place.

Lung Cancer

Lung Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both lungs.

There are 2 main types of lung cancer namely: 1. Small Cell Lung Cancer (10% to 15%) 2. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (85% to 90%)

As Lung Cancer is mostly caused by smoking, it can be prevented. A no-smoking policy and education will contribute to preventing this disease.

Malignant Mesothelioma

This is rare form of cancer that starts in the pleura and occurs mostly in people who have been exposed to asbestos.

It normally doesn’t show any symtpoms until it is in a well advanced stage.

Emphysema

Long term exposure to tobacco smoke and toxic chemical exposures are the common cause of Emphysema.

Emphysema is a chronic lung disease. These patients are referred to as “Pink Puffers” in some cases. Patients may suffer from hyperventilation..

COAD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the name for a collection of lung Diseases including Chronic Bronchitis, Emphysema and Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (COAD).

Asthma

Asthma is a disease of the airways. It results in the narrowing of the airways.

Commonly known as Bronchospasm where the person cannot exhale fully causing the oxygen levels in the body to drop.

Occupational Respiratory Diseases

• Farmers Lung
• Bird Fanciers Lung
• Bronchitis

 
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