|
Silicosis and Silica News - Return to Menu
Ask the Doctor: Shortness of breath?
BY DR. BHARAT SANGANI
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Dear Dr. Sangani:
I have been experiencing shortness of breath for the past several months. This is new, and I would like to know what would be causing this. What test should be done to evaluate? Should I see a specialist? I am just blaming it on old age.
_Difficulty Breathing
Dear Difficulty Breathing:
Shortness of breath is not due to old age. There is almost always a reason. The cleverness comes in finding the cause of the shortness of breath.
Let us visit some common causes and let us see if we can find a cause of your shortness of breath.
Q: What are the most common causes of shortness of breath?
A: Most people who have symptoms of shortness of breath (dyspnea) can be categorized into a respiratory system cause or from the cardiovascular system.
The majority of cases of shortness of breath are caused by one of the following: asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), interstitial lung disease or cardiac disease.
Cases of acute breathing discomfort starting abruptly over the course of minutes or hours needs prompt medical attention to quickly diagnosis causes such as heart attack, heart failure, blood clot in the lungs or respiratory infections.
Q: What symptoms might I experience if I have asthma?
A: Asthma is a disorder causing inflammation of the airways. This inflammation leads to the classic symptoms of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and cough usually seen more at night or the early morning hours.
These symptoms are usually partly reversible either spontaneously or with treatment.
Exposure to stimuli such as exercise, cold air, pollutants, strong odors and allergens can trigger episodes.
Onset is usually seen early in life and is sometimes accompanied with hives, eczema, and allergic rhinitis suggesting an allergic component.
All asthma patients do not have wheezing since wheezing can also be seen in other respiratory disorders as well as from post-nasal drip.
Q: If I suspect I have asthma, what tests will my doctor order?
A: If you suspect that you may have asthma, your health care provider will perform a pulmonary function test (in which you breathe into a tube and certain measurements are taken).
Other tests include a chest X-ray, which is almost always normal in patients with asthma. In some patients it may be of value to test allergies.
Assessment of allergies can be useful in managing patients with asthma, especially in those who continue to have symptoms despite treatment.
It is important to identify allergens at home and in the workplace for those who wish to make environmental modifications to avoid suspected asthma triggers.
If asthma is diagnosed or strongly suspected, your health care provider may refer you to an asthma and allergist specialist.
Q: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is so common. What symptoms might I experience?
A: COPD is probably one of the most common lung diseases seen in the United States, accounting for many patient visits to both the office and hospital.
COPD is caused by inflammation that is not fully reversible unlike asthma. Chronic bronchitis and emphysema are terms included in the definition of COPD.
Patients with COPD usually have a long history of smoking, with symptoms of shortness of breath progressively worsening. Chronic cough with sputum production and often wheezing for several months is usually present at early stages of COPD with shortness of breath on exertion, weight loss, and hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) usually seen in later stages.
Sputum production is usually worse in the morning. Emphysema is a pathological term describing the abnormal enlargement of airspaces in the lungs often seen in COPD.
Chronic bronchitis is defined as cough with productive sputum for three months over the course of two years.
Other causes of chronic cough must be excluded before making a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis.
AngloGold Ashanti silicosis case postponed
By: Nelendhre Moodley
12 Jun 07 - The R2,6-million lawsuit against gold miner AngloGold Ashant by a sick former employee, which was to have taken place this week, has been postponed, an AngloGold Ashanti spokesperson said on Tuesday.
In January, AngloGold Ashanti, one of South Africa's largest gold producers, was served a summons in a R2,6-million lawsuit, on behalf of the former employee, who suffers from silicosis contracted while working underground.
The case was to have been heard on June 12.
AngloGold Ashanti spokesperson Cheryl Landman said that a date had, as yet, not been set.
Earlier, Mining Weekly Online reported that Mpumalanga-based human rights attorney Richard Spoor reported that the case could have a “huge impact” on the local mining industry.
He explained that, under South African law, a worker could not sue his/her employer for injury sustained at the work place.
“This guarantees the immunity of the mining industry,” Spoor said.
Under South African law, a compensation commission assumes responsibility for claim payouts to workers or their families for injury or death incurred at the work place. Moreover, mineworkers fall under a different set of rules, which, ultimately, leads to miners receiving less than workers in industries that fall under the general compensation law.
AngloGold Ashanti mulls going deeper to maintain SA production
Gold-miner AngloGold Ashanti was considering further deepening its South African mines in order to ensure sustained production levels after five...
AngloGold Ashanti to go to court following silicosis compensation claim
On June 12, AngloGold Ashanti will appear in a Johannesburg court following civil action instituted against the gold-mining company by a former...
Back to News Menu
|
