The lung is a vital organ, which is quite resistant and quickly regenerated. However, with the permanent influence of harmful factors from the environment, the lungs can be so stressed that their function is quite significantly reduced. One of these lung diseases is represented by pneumoconiosis.
What is pneumoconiosis?
Pneumoconiosis, which is composed of the Greek name for lung and dust, is a disease that was also called pneumonoconiosis in the past. Pneumoconiosis is a process triggered by external factors that leads to destruction of lung tissue. The processes taking place in the lungs that result in pneumoconiosis occur as a result of the lung tissue’s efforts to regenerate itself. For this reason, pneumoconiosis represents a natural and as a reactive behavior of the respiratory organ. In pneumoconiosis, depending on the disease triggers, about 7 forms are distinguished. Pneumoconiosis is recognized as an occupational disease.
Causes
The causes of pneumoconiosis or pneumoconiosis are clear. In pneumoconiosis, they are based on solid particles that are deposited in the lung tissue as inhaled dust. These substances include quartz dust, powders such as talc, dust of beryllium and iron, aluminum and coal dust, and fine fibers of carcinogenic asbestos. Basically, the triggers of pneumoconiosis are grouped together as inorganic substances. These particles are inhaled in greater or lesser concentrations and thus enter the tissue structures of the lungs. Since no removal can take place, the doses of these disease triggers of pneumoconiosis increase and lead to sometimes considerable discomfort, which can ultimately even be fatal. If organic substances such as fungal spores or components of bird droppings are inhaled, pneumoconiosis results in allergic alveolitis (inflammation of the alveoli).
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
The signs of pneumoconiosis may appear suddenly within a few weeks to months or develop gradually over years. The less time that elapses between dust exposure and the first symptoms, the more severe the symptoms usually are. Acute pneumoconiosis shows rapid exacerbation. Patients suffer increasingly from shortness of breath. Due to the lack of oxygen supply, the mucous membranes of the mouth, the lips and also the fingers turn bluish. In addition, those affected lose weight unintentionally and feel powerless and fatigued. Coughing and chest pain are further symptoms of pneumoconiosis. As the disease progresses, the functional tissue of the lungs increasingly hardens. As a result, the lungs can no longer expand and breathing is significantly more difficult. As in acute pneumoconiosis, a cough also appears in the chronic form. This is initially dry, but is later accompanied by dark sputum. Since the lungs can no longer expand and develop, the entire body is no longer supplied with sufficient oxygen. Therefore, in chronic pneumoconiosis, the skin (cyanosis) also turns blue in the area of the face and fingers.
Diagnosis and course
The course of pneumoconiosis is characterized by either a malignant or benign pathway and depends on the substances ingested and the extent and “depth” of the dust deposits. Malignant pneumoconiosis is characterized by an ultimate loss of lung function and occurs predominantly in silicosis, asbestosis, or talcosis. Benign courses of pneumoconiosis only alter the lung tissue and reduce the functional capacity of the respiratory organ. Most forms of pneumoconiosis constitute an occupational disease under certain circumstances and are reportable. Pneumoconiosis can be detected by a medical history, which refers in particular to the occupation of the affected person in combination with radiological and computer tomographic images of the lungs. In addition, the symptoms described in pneumoconiosis also serve as important foundations for a diagnosis.
Complications
The complications that may arise in pneumoconiosis depend on the course of the disease as well as the substances inhaled.In any case, contact with the substances that triggered the pneumoconiosis must be stopped immediately or at least severely restricted. Otherwise, there is almost always a risk of loss of lung function due to progressive fibrosis. Patients suffering from pneumoconiosis are at increased risk of developing tuberculosis. The disease usually only occurs in Europe when people live together in confined spaces in conjunction with poor hygienic conditions and malnutrition. In pneumoconiosis patients, the pathogens can easily settle in the already attacked lung tissue and multiply well. The patient then suffers from fever, a strong cough combined with shortness of breath and usually bloody sputum. In severe cases, tuberculosis is not confined to the lungs but spreads to other organs. Since tuberculosis is contagious, family members or work colleagues may become infected. Furthermore, if the pneumoconiosis is malignant, the patient may develop lung cancer. Even if the cancer does not take a fatal course, the therapy is enormously stressful for the affected person and his or her family environment.
When should you go to the doctor?
When symptoms such as pain in the lungs, shortness of breath, or irritation of the cough occur, a visit to the doctor is necessary. Pneumoconiosis is a serious condition, but its effects can be reliably alleviated with appropriate treatment. Therefore, even the first signs of pneumoconiosis should be investigated. Persons who work in mining or in any other industry with a high level of contact with pollutants should have these symptoms clarified immediately. People who already have pneumoconiosis should consult their physician if the symptoms become more severe or if other unusual signs of illness appear and do not subside within a week. Pneumoconiosis is treated by the otolaryngologist or a pulmonary specialist. Other points of contact are internists or the rheumatologist if Caplan syndrome is suspected. Since pneumoconiosis is an occupational disease, the necessary documentation must be submitted to the health insurance company at an early stage. For this purpose, the responsible physician should be consulted quickly, who can help with the organizational tasks. In the case of chronic diseases, accompanying psychological therapy is sometimes also useful.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of pneumoconiosis depends on its nature and the symptoms that occur. Avoiding the causative triggers is the first key factor in the therapy of pneumoconiosis. The so-called pneumoconiosis can only be poorly treated. Especially in the later chronic course of pneumoconiosis, ventilation with oxygen is predominant in order to increase the quality of life of those affected. This therapeutic measure is considered long-term care. Since pneumoconiosis is a disease that directly affects the so-called interstitial lung tissue, therapy is not possible, so that no influence can be exerted on the further course of pneumoconiosis. Overall, it is typical for the course of pneumoconiosis that pulmonary fibrosis develops and symptoms similar to tuberculosis may occur. In this context, emergency medical treatment cannot be ruled out in pneumoconiosis.
Prevention
To prevent the occupational disease pneumoconiosis, it is essential to comply with occupational health and safety measures if contact with the causative factors cannot be avoided in a workplace at risk. In addition, regular health checkups are a normal part of these high-risk occupations and should be completed by every employee on a regular basis. These prophylactic examinations are ideal for detecting the first signs of pneumoconiosis or pneumoconiosis occurring in good time. If this is the case, those affected can no longer work in the correspondingly exposed work areas.
Follow-up
In most cases, very few measures of direct aftercare are available to the affected person with pneumoconiosis. In this disease, the patient is primarily dependent on a rapid and, above all, a very early diagnosis. This can prevent further complications, and in the worst case, if left untreated, can lead to the death of the affected person.Therefore, in the case of pneumoconiosis, the patient should consult a doctor and initiate treatment at the first signs and symptoms of the disease. As a rule, in this case, the affected persons are dependent on artificial respiration with oxygen. It should also be noted that most patients with this disease also rely on the help and support of friends and their own family to cope with everyday life. In this context, loving and intensive conversations are also very important, as this can also prevent depression and other psychological upsets. Likewise, regular check-ups with a doctor are to be kept in order to permanently monitor the condition of the lungs. Efforts or physical and stressful activities should also be refrained from in this disease. In some cases, pneumoconiosis significantly reduces the life expectancy of the affected person.
What you can do yourself
Patients affected by pneumoconiosis, or pneumoconiosis, have been exposed to a harmful substance for an extended period of time, which has been deposited in their lungs and is now causing discomfort. The patient should not be exposed to this substance in the future. Under certain circumstances, this may mean that he will no longer be able to continue in his profession and will have to retrain or take a pension. This drastic step is necessary to mitigate the course of pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis patients who live in the city should also consider moving to the country. They should ensure that their respiratory tract is no longer exposed to any substance that could harm them. This includes car exhaust and particulate matter emissions, which are often found in high concentrations in the city. It goes without saying that smoking should also be avoided. Patients with pneumoconiosis can easily contract tuberculosis. The pathogens of this infection nest particularly well in an attacked lung. Therefore, patients should train their immune system so that it can better fight off the tubercle bacilli. To do this, they should pay attention to the needs of their body and eat a light and healthy diet and drink plenty of water, teas or thin juices. Plenty of rest and regular sleeping hours are recommended.
