Pneumoconiosis is the general term for lung disease and that class of interstitial lung diseases in which inhalation of dust has to cause interstitial fibrosis. Pneumocystis often causes restrictive impairment, although diagnosable Pneumonia can occur without appreciable lung function impairment.
Depending on how severe it is, it can cause death within months or years, or it may never produce symptoms. Usually, occupational lung disease is due to years of exposure to dust during mining work; Fabric milling, shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship fracturing; sandblasting; industrial tasks, rock excavation (underground piles or construction); or farming.
What is Pneumoconiosis?
Pneumoconiosis Dust particles of different substances, such as sand, asbestos, particles of stone or flint, or simple dust, in which many types of particles are mixed when they reach the lungs by inhalation for a long time. Some reactions take place in the fibers.
This disease is occupational and occurs only to those who have to work in such factories of metals where particles of metals keep going with the air into the lungs. Not all particles are harmful. Particles of many objects do not harm. Errors in the movement of air in the workplace, lack of hygiene, and use of alcohol are the contributory causes of disease.
This disease occurs especially in men and appears between the age of 22 to 40 years. Its origin depends greatly on the shape and size of the particles passed into the lungs by respiration. The larger the particle and the rougher or rougher it is, the more rapid its reaction and the greater the lung changes.
Types of Pneumoconiosis
1. Anthracosis
It is produced from coal dust. It is also known as the thesis of those working in the coal mines.
2. Siderosis
It is also called Silico-Siderosis. It is caused by the continuous inhalation of particles of these metals to the workers in tin, copper, zinc, and iron mines and steel factories.
3. Silicosis
This terrible disease arises due to excessive fine particles in the dust. This disease is more common in those working in crystal factories. If particles of alumina, carbon, gypsum, and hematite are mixed with silica in the dust, the reaction has fewer harmful effects.
4. Byssinosis
It happens to those working in cotton and salt factories.
5. Asbestosis
This disease occurs in the manufacture of asbestos material.
6. Bagassosis
This disease is caused by the entry of dust particles of bagasse into the lungs in sugar factories. Bagasse contains six percent silica.
Click Here to Read More About Tuberculosis Prevention.
Symptoms of pneumoconiosis
Symptoms often depend on the severity of the disease. Simple pneumoconiosis may have few symptoms and only shows up on X-rays. Complex pneumonitis, or PMF, can cause mild to severe respiratory distress. Symptoms can include:
- Cough
- A lot of phlegm
- Difficulty breathing
- Extreme tiredness (fatigue)
- Sometimes fever like Pneumonia
- Asthma ( Click Here to Read more about Asthma)
Causes of pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis is generally caused by a build-up of inhaled fine dust particles that can cause an inflammatory reaction within the lung. Fibroelastoma predominates, caused by inhalation of particles such as silica, asbestos fibers, beryllium, talc, and coal dust. The patient’s history is required for examination and often reflects long-term exposure to harmful inhales because dust-induced interstitial lung disease is latent. Exposure to these inhalants often occurs in the workplace. Longer work time is associated with the risk of developing lung disease.
Diagnosis of pneumoconiosis
You may be diagnosed with pneumoconiosis if you have any lung disease, lung symptoms, x-ray abnormalities, and a history of working with charcoal, asbestos, or silica mines. You may also be diagnosed with a routine X-ray at work. Federal mine safety and health laws are essential, and it is required for all underground coal miners workers. For his safety, a chest X-ray is offered after three years and then every five years to screen for illness. Your doctor can use any of these things to help make a diagnosis:
- Personal history of work exposure
- Physical exam
- Chest x-ray or CT scan to look for lung nodules, masses, and interstitial diseases
- CT scan of the chest
- Lung function studies, including blood gas
- Biopsy
Treatment of pneumoconiosis
Pneumoconiosis cannot be cured. Once diagnosed, treatment aims to prevent it from worsening and control its symptoms. A treatment plan can include the following:
- No smoking
- Avoid all exposure to dust
- Oxygen use
- Take medicines called bronchodilators that open the lung ducts.
- Influenza and pneumococcal vaccination
Complications of pneumoconiosis
The main complication is when simplex lung disease progresses to PMF. These are other possible complications:
- Progressive respiratory failure
- Lung cancer
- Tuberculosis (but this is rare now)
- Heart failure is caused by pressure inside the lungs.
Can pneumoconiosis be prevented?
Prevention of this disease is most important because this disease cannot be cured or reversed. The Occupational Safety and Health care Administration make some standard guideline for this disease prevention rules for coal mine workers who risk developing pneumoconiosis. These are the usual prevention measures:
- Using the mask
- Wash areas of skin that come in contact with dust.
- Removes dust from clothes safely
- Wash your face and hands well before eating, drinking, or taking any medicine.
- Do not smoke
- Report any symptoms of pneumoconiosis to your healthcare provider and employer.
- Get regular physical exams and chest X-rays
Get an annual flu shot. Influenza is a common cause of pneumoconiosis. For this reason, getting a flu vaccine every year can help prevent flu and Pneumonia.
Get the pneumococcal pneumoconiosis vaccine. Pneumococcal pneumoconiosis is caused by bacteria that are transmitted from person to person. It can cause minor problems, such as ear infections and eye disease. But it can also develop into life-threatening diseases of the lungs (Pneumonia), the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), and the blood (bacteremia).
This vaccine has prevented pneumococcal pneumoconiosis in both adults and children. But like all vaccines, some people shouldn’t get them. Consult and ask your healthcare provider if you should receive this vaccine for its cure.
Living with pneumoconiosis
Lung disease is a long-term chronic lung disease. Learn everything you can about your condition and work closely with your medical team. Consider and strictly follow these tips for the better health condition and manage your health:
Get the flu shots or vaccine every year to help to protect your lungs, and casually ask your doctor about a pneumoconiosis vaccine for prevention.
- Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
- Ask your doctor if a pulmonary rehabilitation program can help you.
- Try to exercise regularly for at least 30 min and get enough sleep.
Eat a balanced diet. Try smaller, more frequent meals if a full stomach makes breathing difficult.
Having trouble breathing can make you feel anxious and tense. Talk about your feelings with your healthcare mentor if you seek help from a mental health professional if necessary.
Consider joining a support group. The American Lung Association has better breathing clubs around the country that can help.
Key points about pneumoconiosis
Lung disease is a general term for lung infection general caused by breathing problems some certain types of dust.
The disease has so many different forms; it depends on the type of dust you inhale.
One of the most common forms is pneumoconiosis in coal workers or miners. This disease’s other name is also known as black lung disease. It is generally caused by inhaling coal dust.
Prevention of this disease is very important because the disease cannot be cured or reversed.
Prevention includes wearing a mask when working, not smoking, always washing your skin in contact with dust, and removing dust from clothing safely.
When do you call the doctor?
Call your doctor if you have trouble breathing, a persistent cough, or a cough that produces a lot of phlegm.
