“World Lung Day (WLD), 25 September, is a day for lung health advocacy and action, an opportunity for us all to unite and promote better lung health globally.”
So what are some main respiratory issues?
Emphysema
Emphysema affects a person’s ability to exhale air. It is mostly people who smoke that fall victim to emphysema. Constant smoking causes damage the lungs, to the point where the destruction is irreversible. There is no cure for emphysema however, if smoking is stopped it may slow down the progression of disease.
Asthma
Asthma is a common respiratory problem that causes inflammation of the airways. Some symptoms include dry coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing. The disease first occurs in the childhood years, but in some cases can affect people later in life from ages 60-80. This is known as “Adult onset Asthma”. The positive news about asthma is that it can be reversible, and in many cases, people who have it are able to improve their breathing gradually overtime.
COVID-19 Pneumonia
COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, can cause lung complications such as pneumonia and, in the most severe cases, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. Sepsis, another possible complication of COVID-19, can also cause lasting harm to the lungs and other organs.
In pneumonia, the lungs become filled with fluid and inflamed, leading to breathing difficulties. For some people, breathing problems can become severe enough to require treatment at the hospital with oxygen or even a ventilator.
The pneumonia that COVID-19 causes tends to take hold in both lungs. Air sacs in the lungs fill with fluid, limiting their ability to take in oxygen and causing shortness of breath, cough and other symptoms.
While most people recover from pneumonia without any lasting lung damage, the pneumonia associated with COVID-19 may be severe. Even after the disease has passed, lung injury may result in breathing difficulties that might take months to improve.
Occupational Respiratory Disease
In some cases the form of occupation, the environment your work in, and the elements around you can cause respiratory problems. Anyone can be affected.
Occupational respiratory diseases include:
- Aluminosis – pneumoconiosis caused by the presence of dust containing aluminium in the lung tissue.
- Asbestosis, asbestosis induced carcinoma, mesothelioma – diseases caused by inhalation of asbestos.
- Berylliosis (chronic beryllium disease) – pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of dusts (or vapours) containing beryllium.
- Byssinosis – a respiratory disease caused by inhalation of cotton dust.
- Coal workers’ pneumoconiosis (CWP) – pneumoconiosis caused by exposure to respirable coal dust.
- Hard metal pneumoconiosis (hard metal lung disease or HMLD) – fibrotic pneumoconiosis caused by respirable dusts of hard metals such as tungsten, tungsten carbide and cobalt.
- Silicosis – fibrotic lung disease caused by exposure to respirable crystalline silica, may lead to lung cancer.
- Talcosis – pneumoconiosis caused by exposure to respirable talc dust.
If you are an employee that has been affected by work-related respiratory issues, ProActiv People can offer support in finding a suitable job that doesn’t limit you due to your condition.
Contact us on 08 8362 4507 or admin@proactivpeople.com.au for more information.
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