Impact of Lung Diseases in the Workplace - Essay Example

Discuss the Impact of LUNG DISEASE in the Workplace Introduction Lung disease is a disease or disorder that harms the basic function of the lungs. Several millions of people suffer with lung disease of different kind. Today, the range of clinical conditions included under the common term respiratory medicine varies from cancers to obstructive sleep apnea, occupational lung disease, interstitial lung disease to airways disease to respiratory infections (Hubbard, 2006). If we take into consideration the air we breathe in every day, we breathe approximately 25,000 times, and during this time we inhale large amounts of air. Though the air we inhale contains mostly oxygen and nitrogen, it also has things that can damage the lungs. Bacteria, viruses, tobacco smoke, car exhaust, and other pollutants ate present abundantly in air. People with lung disease have difficulty in normal breathing. These breathing problems may prevent the body from getting enough oxygen. It is not a surprise that people with lung disease find it difficult to work as normal people, walk and swim, run or does any other work as normal person. This paper discusses the impact of lung disease in the workplace. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) By understanding some basics about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its symptoms, it is possible to analyses its impact on the every day work or its impact on the workplace. COPD is a condition in which the air passages are damaged, leading to shortness of breath and increased coughing. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are forms of COPD. In the case of emphysema, the lung’s air sacs loose their elasticity. As a result of this the exchange of oxygen to carbon dioxide becomes very difficult. Additionally, the air sacs are often damaged, leaving fewer of them to do the work. These factors result in the shortness of breath and make it very difficult for a person to perform normal work. Chronic bronchitis is another form of COPD. In this case the small airways within the lungs become inflamed and harden over time. Besides the cilia which are the small protective hairs that clear mucus also losses its effectiveness and the mucus glands enlarge. The narrowed airways together with increased mucus cause congestion and coughing and make it more difficult to breathe. There are many who have both emphysema as well as chronic bronchitis. Most people with these diseases find breathing trouble to be the most problematic among the symptoms (Wilkinson, 2002). According to studies it is said that COPD is the only primary cause of death that is ever-increasing in occurrence. Even though it is a well known factor that cigarette smoking is the major cause of COPD, and if an effort is made in this direction it can be largely preventable, COPD has become a major burden on the health-care community, a burden that will continue to escalate around the world in the next century (Hurd, 2000). Occupational health problem is another major problem world wide. Repeated and long-term exposure to certain irritants such as smoke, dust and asbestos on the job can lead to a number of lung diseases that may have lasting effects, even when people are not exposed. Often times some of the occupations, because of the nature of their location, work, and environment, is more at risk for occupational lung diseases than others. For instance, people working in coal mines, garage, textile, chemical factories are at risk for occupational lung diseases. Exposure to all these hazardous chemicals, dusts, and fibres may lead to a lifetime of lung problems if not properly diagnosed and treated. Occupational lung diseases are considered as the number of work-related illness and most of them are caused by repeated, long-term exposure, but even a severe, single exposure to a hazardous agent can damage the lungs. These are all preventable. For instance, smoking can increase both the severity of an occupational lung disease and the risk of lung cancer. If it is reduces consciously, it is possible to prevent such dreaded diseases. Common symptoms of occupational lung disease Some of the most common symptoms of lung diseases, regardless of the cause are as follows: coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, chest tightness and also abnormal breathing pattern (University of Virginia, 2007). Each individual may have one or more of the symptoms. Besides the symptoms of occupational lung diseases may resemble other medical conditions or problems. It is very important to always consult a physician for a proper diagnosis. Though dusts are relatively inert in nature and cause no serious health effects, they may be irritating to the upper airways. Pneumoconiosis is the term used to define the non-neoplastic reaction of the lungs to inhaled mineral or organic dust and the resultant change in their structure. It eliminates diseases mainly of the airways like asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. Two important pneumoconioses are coal workers pneumoconiosis and silicosis.  Coalworkers pneumoconiosis is caused by inhalation of coal dust and is more prevalent in underground workers exposed to higher concentrations of dust when compared to surface workers. As a result of this the lung is partially or completely destroyed by fibrosis and emphysema (HE&W, 2007).  The second type of lung disease is called the silicosis. This is also a pneumoconiosis caused by inhalation of quartz or silicon dioxide. In fact these are lethal to macrophages that ingest it and release their enzymes. In its early stages it is similar to coalworkers pneumoconiosis, however in this case the nodules in the lung tend to be denser. The term mixed dust fibrosis describes the lung disorder which is mainly caused by the inhalation of silica dust together with another non-fibrogenic dust. There are also other types of mineral pneumoconiosis that may be caused by beryllium, talc, kaolin and mica inhalation (HE&W, 2007). Asthma is another condition characterised by inflammation of the lining of the airways and intermittent spasm of the underlying smooth muscle. It is often but not always the result of allergy to an inhaled dust or vapour in the workplace. Its symptoms may be almost the same as that of other lung related diseases that vary from cough, wheeze, chest tightness to shortness of breath. In the UK researchers have estimated that there are probably more than 2000 new cases every year and there have been a few fatalities from agents such as isocyanates or reactive dyes. Asthma may result from various reasons such as isocyanates, hardening/curing agents such as anhydrides, dusts from various cereals, pollen from different plants, animals such as mammals (rats, mice), wood dusts etc (HE&W, 2007).  Bronchial cancer Bronchial cancer is one of the major causes of death in today’s world and the single most important known environmental respiratory carcinogen is tobacco smoke. Though is not the only reason, lung cancer may also be caused by other agents e.g. asbestos, certain compounds of nickel, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) e.g. benzpyrene, arsenic trioxide and chromates (HE&W, 2007). Epidemiological Impact of Lung Disease in Workplace Epidemiologic studies form the foundation for primary and secondary disease prevention. These approaches are basically utilized to track the occurrence of disease in a particular population, to characterize natural history, and to identify the causes of the disease. For instance, routine mortality statistics have confirmed the clinical impression of lung cancer and has pointed out that the disease became more frequent during the first half of the 20th century (Alberg and Samet 2003). Specifically through the case-control and cohort studies (Doll and Hill, 1954; Doll and Hill, 1956) the epidemiologic study designs that are used to assess exposure-disease links, causally associated smoking to lung cancer in most of the studies starting from 1950s onwards (Doll and Hill, 1950). It is very essential to monitor any kind of health hazards in workplace as there are several numbers of people who will be affected in case of any hazards (Ashton and Gill, 2000). Common cold and flu is easily spread in work place. People who have comparatively week immunity get these easily and their work gets easily affected. Additionally, work disability due to lung disease, particularly asthma, is common and many of them loose money due to loss of pay. Because asthma is a chronic disease with repeated exacerbations, this condition in particular is a major cause of disability among those of working age (Blanc, 1999). For instance, in the United States, asthma is the primary non-musculoskeletal diagnosis linked with disability among the age group of 18 to 44, which is far surpassing conditions such as diabetes and hypertension (LaPlante and Carlson, 1996). Besides, the similar data is obtained from other industrialized countries also (Blanc, 1999). Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) among individuals who have never smoked tobacco products has been well established as a risk factor for lung cancer (Reynolds, 1999). A single etiologic agent, cigarette smoking, is by far the leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 90% of lung cancer cases in the United States and other countries where cigarette smoking is common (Peto et.al., 1994). Physiological Impact of Lung Disease in Workplace Lung disease is mainly linked with poor quality of life and increased risk for psychological distress. Besides, these diseases itself cause serious distress among the patients as they fine themselves in miserable state where they find not only difficult for breathing but also to do basic activities such as walking, or doing any other work. They are more and more dependent on other family member or friends. Despite the noteworthy number of individuals with end-stage lung diseases, the emotional health of these patients, as compared with those with other chronic organ diseases, is not much researched. According to the British Thoracic Society, death rates from respiratory disease are higher in the UK when compared to both the European and EU average. It is estimated that respiratory disease kills one in five people in the UK and costs the NHS over £6 billion. According to the society the major respiratory diseases in UK include tuberculosis, pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, occupational lung disease, sleep apnoea, scarring lung diseases and many others (British Thoracic Society, 2006). Studies have found that lung disease has a more number of negative impacts on life satisfaction and increases the likelihood of disability more than most systemic and neurologic conditions (Broe, et al. 1998). The presence of a chronic pulmonary disorder is also linked with increased risk for depression and other mental health disorders. For instance, according to a study, it was suggested that more number of psychiatric distress in individuals with COPD prevail than in those patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or rheumatoid arthritis (DeCencio, 1968). Legal and Financial Impact of Lung Disease in Workplace Studies conducted by the British Lung Foundation (BLF) have estimated that lung disease is costing employers 25m lost working days a year due to sufferers having to take time off. Additionally they have also estimated that the effect is a loss of business amounting to nearly £1.5bn per year. In another survey among 1,200 people it was found that as many as a third took time off for lung-related diseases. It is very essential to decrease the number of people from getting effected due to the impurities spread in the air. It is a preventable cause for absenteeism form the work place and it can also help increase the productivity of the employees. Lung disease affects about 8m people in the UK and on average about one person in every family. According to a survey, by Taylor Nelson Sofres, among 1,200 working people in the UK it was found that coughing was the most widely-suffered condition reported by those who took time off, with 25 % taking time off with flu (BBC, 2002). Secondhand tobacco smoke is the main source respiratory diseases in workplace. In a recent review it was estimated that smoke free workplace legislation in the UK could help reduce the number of people smoking by nearly 2 million (Fichtenberg and Glantz 2002). Several legal steps have been taken in the industries to bring down the number of cases of lung related diseases. For instance, due to the increased risk to health and the intrinsic financial implications for the companies, employers are taking serious steps towards smoking behaviours among their employees. Additionally, the insurance companies are sizably increasing premiums for smokers and even those of family members of smokers. Studies suggest that the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers associated with smokers in the family or the workplace being approximately 20% compared to those not exposed or addicted to Nicotine (Cambridge Network 2007). According to the British Thoracic Society legislation to ban tobacco advertising in the UK and extra regulation of workplace smoking could to reduce the lung related diseases (BBC, 2001). In recent years several steps have been taken up to improve the environmental conditions and make the working area more congenial. Occupational health hazards is a major cause of concern in the modern day work place (Barrett and Howells, 2000).The British Health and Safety Commission have launched a campaign. The main aim of this campaign is to revitalizing health and safety. Its Strategy Statement of June 2000 set targets up to 2010 for the reduction of workplace accidents and ill health. Additionally it claims that the annual national bill for health and safety failures is £18 billion and reducing this figure will assist high and stable levels of economic growth and employment (Barrett, 2003). Conclusion Lung disease is an increasing concern among the public health and it is a fact that millions of people are diagnosed every year with a lung disease. In fact there are many more who go undiagnosed. Lung diseases are also common in patients with obesity and heart disease. Lung diseases decrease the person’s ability to perform and bring down their productivity. For instance, people with COPD have difficulty breathing because their lungs do not work at normal capacity. The nature of the disease makes it difficult to predict how much time a person need to finish a particular job assignment to him/her. In recent years there are many organizations that offer resources and information on lung disease. Such materials generally focus on lifestyle changes, such as improving diet and quitting smoking. It is important that more such initiative is taken up by various organization to help patients and families to cope with such problems. References Alberg, A.J. and Samet, J.M. (2003) Epidemiology of Lung Cancer. Chest ;123:21S-49S. Ashton, I. & Gill, F. S. (2000) Monitoring for health hazards at work. Oxford: Blackwell Science. American Lung Association, COPD: (2000) Data & Statistics [Online] Available from: [Accessed on 14 January 2008]. BBC (2001) Q&A: The rising tide of lung disease [Online] Available from: BBC, (2002) Lung disease hits UK productivity [Online] Available from: Barrett, B. (2003) Is a safer organisation a more profitable organisation? International Journal of Business Performance Management (IJBPM), Vol. 5, No. 2/3. Barrett, B. & Howells, R. 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