How to check for pneumoconiosis

Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Pneumoconiosis is primarily caused by inhaling a large amount of gases containing dust particles in our production or work environment. These gases deposit in our alveoli over a long period, leading to the retention of dust in the lungs. Subsequently, this dust irritates the alveoli and pulmonary interstitium, leading to pulmonary interstitial fibrosis. Patients may experience symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. The examination of pneumoconiosis mainly relies on imaging of the chest, such as chest radiographs, combined with pulmonary function tests, which can essentially determine the diagnosis of pneumoconiosis and also assess the severity of the disease.

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Written by Liu Jing Jing
Pulmonology
1min 5sec home-news-image

Do people with pneumoconiosis cough at night?

Pneumoconiosis can potentially lead to coughing at night. It is caused by the inhalation of dust, resulting in changes to the lungs. Patients often exhibit symptoms such as coughing, expectoration, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, and these symptoms progressively worsen. In severe cases, complications may include pulmonary heart disease or pulmonary cerebral disease. However, coughing at night is not necessarily indicative of pneumoconiosis. Other conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, pulmonary tuberculosis, and lung tumors, may also result in nighttime coughing. Thus, it is important to visit a hospital for comprehensive diagnostics including chest CT, complete blood count, and sputum tests for tuberculosis to establish a clear diagnosis. Pneumoconiosis is an occupational disease, and visiting a local institute for occupational diseases can aid in diagnosis.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
1min 2sec home-news-image

Can people with pneumoconiosis drink beer?

It is not recommended to drink. The incidence of pneumoconiosis among patients in clinical settings is increasingly high, often due to long-term exposure to dust, which leads to this occupational disease. Due to various inducing factors caused by pneumoconiosis, the consequences for patients generally tend to worsen gradually. Commonly, these patients experience varying degrees of cough, expectoration, shortness of breath, and even severe respiratory difficulties in later stages. Patients with pneumoconiosis are strongly advised to refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol in their daily lives, including beer, which is also not recommended as it belongs to the category of spicy and irritating substances. Drinking beer may exacerbate some of the symptoms of pneumoconiosis to varying degrees.

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Written by Li Ying
Pulmonology
1min 47sec home-news-image

How is pneumoconiosis caused?

Pneumoconiosis is a systemic disease characterized by diffuse fibrotic scarring of lung tissue. It is caused by the long-term inhalation of industrial dust and dust during occupational activities, which accumulates in the lungs. Once pneumoconiosis occurs, it is irreversible and incurable for life, with a high mortality rate of up to 22%. So, who is more likely to develop pneumoconiosis? The main occupations include: First, mining activities, including coal mining, metal mining, and non-metal mining. These activities produce a large amount of dust that, when inhaled into the lungs, can cause pneumoconiosis. Second, mechanical manufacturing, specifically during the manufacturing process of metal castings. Activities such as sand mixing for casting and sand molding can lead to pneumoconiosis, particularly among welders who dominate this industry. Third, metal smelting, involving ore loading and unloading, steel casting, and alumina sintering. The primary occupations exposed include sintered pellet raw material workers, sintering workers, and blast furnace operators, all of whom come into contact with large amounts of dust. Fourth, the construction industry, for example, with materials resistant to fire such as quartz sand, glass, stone, and cement production, as well as asbestos mining. Workers in these industries are exposed to large amounts of dust. In China, the top three types of pneumoconiosis are silicosis, coal worker's pneumoconiosis, and graphite pneumoconiosis, along with those working in jade processing and welder's pneumoconiosis, which are relatively common.

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Written by Wang Chun Mei
Pulmonology
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The difference between pneumoconiosis and silicosis

Pneumoconiosis and silicosis are both occupational diseases. In clinical terms, silicosis is a type of pneumoconiosis. Pneumoconiosis encompasses a wide range of causes. Patients develop the disease due to long-term exposure to dust particles in the environment, such as carbon graphite, dust, silica dust, and other types of cement dust, all of which can cause pneumoconiosis, leading to fibrotic changes in the lungs. Silicosis specifically refers to an occupational disease caused by inhaling free silica, leading to interstitial fibrotic changes in the lungs. Therefore, silicosis is a type of pneumoconiosis, which is a key distinction between them.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Can lungs be transplanted in the late stage of pneumoconiosis?

Pneumoconiosis can consider lung transplantation in its late stages. Lung transplantation, which is suited for end-stage lung diseases such as pneumoconiosis, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, and even certain lung cancer patients can undergo this procedure. Regarding the current requirements for lung transplantation, the primary criteria include the patient’s overall condition meeting the standards for transplantation. Additionally, the function of other organs, apart from the lungs, must be maintained to a certain level to endure a lengthy surgery lasting 6-8 hours. If they cannot withstand this, there could be risks involved. Therefore, screening before lung transplantation is crucial. Moreover, as donor organs are relatively scarce, it is necessary to wait for the right opportunity to proceed with the transplantation.