Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Occupational lung disease
Introduction
Occupational lung disease is a lung disease that results from breathing in dust from coal, graphite, or man-made carbon over a long period of time.
What are the symptoms of occupational lung disease?
Who is at highest risk?
Your risk of developing the occupational lung disease depends on how long you have been exposed to a specific agent. Most people with this occupational lung disease are older than 50. Smoking increases your risk of developing this occupational lung disease.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop symptoms of occupational lung disease.
Diagnosis
The doctor will perform a physical exam and listen to your lungs with a stethoscope. A chest x-ray will be taken.
Treatment options
There is no specific treatment for this disorder. You should avoid further exposure to the agent.
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
The outcome for the simple form is usually good. It rarely causes disability or death. The complicated form may cause shortness of breath that gets progressively worse.
Possible complications
Complications may include:
- Cor pulmonale (failure of the right side of the heart)
- Lung Cancer
- Pulmonary tuberculosis
- Respiratory failure
Prevention
Wear a protective mask when working around coal, graphite, or man-made carbon. Companies should enforce the maximum permitted dust levels.
Sources
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alexandra M. Palmer
Want to know more?
A more detailed clinical article for the same condition is available from WikiDoc. It is written for medical professionals and uses technical language.