Asthma and your workplace
Some job environments are more likely to trigger an asthma attack. You may have occupational asthma. You may have to change jobs to avoid the trigger for your asthma. Early treatment is crucial. There may be triggers in your workplace that make ... [... more]
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Breathing problems and exercise
People with lung disease may avoid activities or exercise. People with asthma, emphysema, bronchiectasis and chronic bronchitis may find exercise makes them breathless. However, regular physical activity can actually improve lung function and ... [... more]
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Lung conditions - obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the collective term for a number of lung diseases that prevent the lungs from breathing properly. Two of the most common types of COPD are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Cigarette smokers are ... [... more]
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Interstitial lung disease
Interstitial lung disease is a term used to describe conditions which affect lung tissue and which do not usually affect the airways. In this group of conditions, the lung tissue is damaged in some way. Interstitial lung disease is a term used to ... [... more]
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Cadmium - Better Health Channel.
Cadmium is a metal with many uses, including the manufacture of batteries. High exposure to cadmium has been linked to a range of health problems, including certain kidney and lung conditions. The health effects of cadmium vary, depending on how ... [... more]
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Smog - Better Health Channel.
Smog consists of pollutants from car exhaust (and other sources), chemically reacting in sunlight to form ozone. Prolonged exposure to smog irritates the lungs and reduces lung functioning. Smog may also contribute to asthma and hay fever ... [... more]
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Silicosis - Better Health Channel.
Repeated and prolonged exposure over many years to relatively high concentrations of crystalline silica in the air is known to cause a lung disease called silicosis. Repeated and prolonged exposure over many years to relatively high ... [... more]
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Asbestos and your health
Asbestos can cause serious diseases including cancers, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other non-malignant lung diseases such as asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural thickening. Asbestos has been used in roofing, asbestos cement ... [... more]
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Psittacosis - parrot fever
Psittacosis is a type of lung infection caused by the bacterium Chlamydia psittaci. This germ is commonly carried by birds of the parrot family including budgerigars, lovebirds and parakeets. This disease can be readily treated with ... [... more]
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Cancer and asbestos
Asbestos is a mineral made up of fibres that can be breathed into the lungs. Exposure to asbestos may cause a range of illnesses, including asbestosis, lung cancer and a cancer called mesothelioma. Asbestos used to be a common building material ... [... more]
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Asthma and adults
Asthma can develop when a person is middle-aged or older. This is called adult onset asthma. As people age, their lungs become less efficient. Adult onset asthma can speed up this deterioration of lung functioning. A person who is middle-aged or ... [... more]
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Pleurisy explained
Pleurisy is inflammation of the pleura, the thin membranes that line the chest wall and envelop the lungs. Common causes include bacterial and viral infections such as pneumonia. Each lung is wrapped in a thin membrane called the visceral pleura. ... [... more]
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