Emphysema is a disease involving lung tissue dysfunction or damage which results in a person having to breathe in a more exaggerated fashion in order to get sufficient amounts of fresh oxygen. This is as a result of the damage to the air sacs in the lungs making them less able to allow the transfer of fresh oxygen breathed in with the carbon dioxide breathed out. The tubes called bronchi which are the branches from the windpipe which divide to the two lungs can also become narrow and less elastic. Overall, there is a reduction of lung capacity causing breathlessness as it is both harder to breathe air in and force air out.
Emphysema is also commonly referred to as chronic obstructive airways disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This is a term used to describe long term lung conditions such as the combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Whilst each condition can occur on its own, many people have a mixture of both emphysema and chronic bronchitis.
Symptoms and characteristics:
The symptoms of emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include:
- breathlessness upon minimal exertion
- cough that doesn’t go away especially involving mucous or phlegm
- inability to take a deep breath
- fatigue
- blue tinge to the skin due to lack of oxygen
- increased susceptibility to chest infections
- eventually breathlessness all the time
- expansion of the ribcage, due to expansion of the lungs.
Workplace solutions and adjustments:
The damaged airways caused by emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease don’t regenerate, leading to a gradual loss of quality of life. However, lung function can be improved and symptoms can be relieved by adopting appropriate management strategies. In the workplace this may involve:
- avoiding irritants such as gases, fumes and dust
- avoiding extremes in temperature
- moving into a role requiring reduced physical exertion, or rotating between tasks to allow built in rest breaks
- allowing time for rest breaks
- provision of seating to allow postural rotation.
If having to rely on external oxygen supplies for breathing, portable oxygen tanks with trolleys are available which can be transported between home and work. Alternatively a separate oxygen tank and stand can be set up within the workplace.
The Employment Assistance Fund provides financial assistance for work-related modifications, equipment and services to help people with disability to get employment and perform their work as independently and productively as possible. To determine eligibility, please refer to the full guidelines:
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
(The Australian Lung Foundation 2008; Better Health Channel 2007)
References:
Better Health Channel 2007, Emphysema explained, State Government Department of Victoria, Melbourne Australia, viewed 17 March 2007, <http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Emphysema_explained>.
The Australian Lung Foundation 2008, COPD, The Australian Lung Foundation, Brisbane, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.lungnet.com.au/content/view/1/3/>.
The Australian Lung Foundation 2008, What is COPD?, The Australian Lung Foundation, Brisbane, viewed 9 January 2009, <http://www.lungnet.com.au/content/view/113/136/>.