“Occupational hazards account for more than one in ten people with range of lung diseases - Science Daily” plus 2 more

Occupational hazards account for more than one in ten people with range of lung diseases - Science Daily
Asthma and pneumonia: What's the link? - Medical News Today
New respiratory drugs get $8M boost at TFF Pharmaceuticals - Austin Business Journal

Occupational hazards account for more than one in ten people with range of lung diseases - Science Daily

Posted: 31 May 2019 11:39 AM PDT

More than 1 in 10 people with a range of non-cancerous lung diseases may be sick as a result of inhaling vapors, gas, dust or fumes at work, according to a joint American Thoracic Society and the European Respiratory Society statement published in the ATS's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

In "The Occupational Burden of Nonmalignant Respiratory Diseases: An Official American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Statement," 13 clinical and research experts from the two respiratory societies analyzed scores of studies of the connections between occupational hazards and lung disease. The studies were conducted around the world over more than two decades.

The authors included a range of respiratory conditions, ranging from asthma and COPD to scarring fibrosis and selected infections. They did not study cancer of the lung and pleura, the membrane surrounding the lungs, because the occupational burden for those conditions, which can be substantial, has already been reported. Similarly, they did not include in their burden estimate asbestosis, silicosis and coal workers' pneumoconiosis (black lung), because those conditions are entirely work-related.

"The role of occupational factors in most lung disease is under-recognized," said Paul D. Blanc, MD, MSPH, chief of the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, who along with Carrie A. Redlich, MD, MPH, director of the Occupational and Environmental Medicine Program at Yale University, led the group effort. "Failure to appreciate the importance of work-related factors in such conditions impedes diagnosis, treatment and, most importantly of all, prevention of further disease."

Specifically, the authors estimated the occupational burden of these lung diseases:

Asthma, 16 percent
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) 14 percent
Chronic bronchitis, 13 percent
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 26 percent
Hypersensitivity pneumonitis, 19 percent
Sarcoidosis and other granulomatous disease, 30 percent
Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, 29 percent
Community-acquired pneumonia (in working-age adults), 10 percent
Tuberculosis (in silica dust-exposed workers), 2 percent.

Dr. Blanc said that some of these findings, particularly those for asthma and COPD, reinforce earlier burden estimates. Other estimates, such as those for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and community-acquired pneumonia in working-age adults, highlight "a newly appreciated magnitude of risk."

Dr. Blanc added that the authors hope that the statement will cause clinicians to consider not just the respiratory condition but also the patient's occupation and "will move policy makers to take seriously the prevention of such diseases among working women and men around the globe."

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Materials provided by American Thoracic Society. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Asthma and pneumonia: What's the link? - Medical News Today

Posted: 28 May 2019 12:00 AM PDT

Asthma and pneumonia are two respiratory conditions. They share some symptoms, but they have different causes and treatments. Pneumonia may be more difficult to detect in people with asthma.

Asthma does not directly cause pneumonia, but people with a history of chronic respiratory problems, such as asthma, could have a higher risk of developing pneumonia.

In this article, we look at the link between asthma and pneumonia, explore symptoms and diagnoses, and discuss the differences between these conditions in children and adults.

What are asthma and pneumonia?

Symptoms of asthma include difficulty breathing and tightening of the chest.

Asthma and pneumonia are conditions that affect the lungs.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition that results in narrowing and inflammation of the bronchiole airways.

Symptoms come and go over time and in response to triggers. They vary from person to person, but they often include:

difficulty breathing
tightening of the chest
coughing

Wheezing and coughing tend to occur during an asthma attack, making breathing more difficult.

Triggers of an asthma attack include but are not limited to:

typical allergens, such as pet dander, pollen, mold, and dust

chemical fumes
smoke
air pollution
cold, dry weather
exercise

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by bacteria, fungi, parasites, or viruses. It can affect one or both lungs.

Bacterial pneumonia is by far the most common type of pneumonia in adults.

Like asthma, pneumonia causes lung inflammation, though it affects the air sacs — called alveoli — at the end of the bronchiole airways. An accumulation of pus or fluid in the air sacs makes breathing difficult.

What is the link?

Asthma does not directly cause pneumonia, but people with chronic lung problems are more likely to develop pneumonia, due to previous lung damage or weakness in lung tissue.

For the same reason, a person with asthma may have more severe symptoms and complications from colds and the flu.

The flu can lead to pneumonia and, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "Adults and children with asthma are more likely to develop pneumonia after getting sick with flu than people who do not have asthma."

Some researchers believe that asthma medications may play a role. One study suggests that inhaled corticosteroids — a main treatment option for asthma — might increase the risk of developing pneumonia or other respiratory infections.

Furthermore, some research indicates that young adults with asthma might experience "excess exacerbations" of the condition following pneumonia. The authors reported that the study group had made more frequent asthma-related hospital visits after having pneumonia.

Symptoms of pneumonia in people with asthma

A person with asthma and pneumonia may develop a fever and chills.

The symptoms of asthma and pneumonia can be similar, which can make pneumonia difficult for doctors to spot.

Both asthma and pneumonia can cause:

chest pain
shortness of breath
an increased respiratory rate
an increased pulse
coughing
wheezing

However, the conditions can also cause different symptoms.

A person with asthma who suspects that they have pneumonia should look for:

mucus in their cough
a fever
chest pain while coughing
a crackling sound when they try to breathe in

If any of these symptoms are present, see a doctor.

A typical asthma flare-up involves coughing, wheezing, and a feeling of tightness in the chest. A decrease in lung function results in difficulty breathing and an increased pulse. The wheezing may be high-pitched and whistling.

Uncomfortable asthma symptoms can last from a few minutes to several hours. Symptoms may flare up suddenly, and some people call these episodes asthma attacks.

When a person has pneumonia, the initial symptoms may be similar to those of a typical cold or flu. As the lung infection evolves, green, yellow, or bloody mucus may accompany coughing.

Common symptoms of pneumonia include, but are not limited to:

headaches
tiredness
a loss of appetite
shortness of breath
clammy skin
fever and chills
chest pain that worsens with coughing or breathing

Pneumonia can also cause a crackling sound while breathing.

When pneumonia results from a virus, symptoms tend to include muscle pain and a dry cough from the very beginning. As the infection continues, the cough tends to worsen, and a person may produce mucus.

When pneumonia is caused by bacteria, a person may have a high fever. Fevers of this degree come with their own side effects, including delirium and confusion. In severe cases of pneumonia, the lips or nail beds might turn blue as a result of a lack of oxygen.

Complications of pneumonia in people with asthma

People with asthma and pneumonia should seek treatment as early as possible.

If a person does not receive treatment, asthma and pneumonia can be life-threatening respiratory diseases.

While asthma has no cure, symptoms tend to respond well to monitoring and appropriate treatments.

In some cases, a person can recover from pneumonia within a week, while in others it may take at least a month.

Because inflammation in the lungs can lead to an asthma attack, the airway dysfunction related to pneumonia can bring on a serious attack and cause severe complications.

As bacteria or viruses replicate inside lung tissue, the body's natural immune defenses begin to flood the lungs with mucus. This makes breathing more difficult, and it causes a person to cough.

The mucus blocks the airways, which constrict in response to inflammation, causing a lack of oxygen exchange in the body. As a result, the lungs must exert more effort, which can worsen chest pain.

It is best to treat asthma and pneumonia as early as possible to prevent the conditions from worsening.

Difference between asthma and pneumonia

The main difference is that asthma is a chronic, noninfectious condition, whereas pneumonia is a lung infection.

Asthma causes inflammation and narrowing of the airways. It mainly affects the bronchioles, which are the tiny branches of the airways in the lungs.

Asthma is not a curable disease, though a person can manage its symptoms with the right medications. Asthma triggers can lessen over time and as a person learns to manage their illness.

Pneumonia is an infection that can occur in one or both of the lungs. It causes inflammation in the air sacs, not the bronchioles.

Pneumonia can cause the lungs to fill with fluid, making breathing painful and difficult. It is treatable.

While asthma and pneumonia can cause many similar symptoms, they are different diseases with different treatment and care approaches.

Summary

It is important for people with asthma to understand the link with pneumonia.

While one condition does not cause the other, people with asthma are more likely to develop pneumonia. If this happens, they have a greater risk of complications.

Early treatment and preventive techniques are key to reducing the risk of these complications.

New respiratory drugs get $8M boost at TFF Pharmaceuticals - Austin Business Journal

Posted: 31 May 2019 05:51 AM PDT

[unable to retrieve full-text content]New respiratory drugs get $8M boost at TFF Pharmaceuticals Austin Business Journal

TFF Pharmaceuticals Inc. has millions more in venture capital to fund its quest for better drugs related to respiratory problems. The year-old Austin startup ...

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome