Respiratory Disease
Overview
Respiratory diseases are conditions affecting the airways or other structures of the lungs. Two types of respiratory diseases exist, infections caused by viruses and bacteria such as COVID-19 and the flu or chronic ailments. Common chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) include:
- Asthma
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Lung Cancer
- Sleep Apnea
- Pulmonary Hypertension
- Occupational Lung Diseases (Silicosis, Asbestosis, Mesothelioma, Occupational Asthma)
There is no known cure for CRD. For those suffering from one of these conditions, there are medications to improve symptoms but the best treatment by far for CRD remains prevention.
Risk Factors
A number of factors can contribute to the development of CRD, smoking being the most common. Indoor and outdoor air pollution, incidence of lower respiratory infections in childhood and occupational chemicals and dust can all cause these ailments as well.
Workers in both the jewelry and dental industry are at risk of developing lung cancer or silicosis due to their contact with crystalline silica dust. An incurable disease, silicosis usually develops after about 10 years of exposure. Symptoms of silicosis include:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness
- Coughing and Wheezing
But silica dust is not the only toxin that contributes to the development of CRD. Other occupational chemicals and dust can also be quite hazardous. The microbial dust found in podiatry offices and nail salons, for example, can cause occupational asthma, sinusitis and rhinitis.
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) may also lead to the development of CRD. Air pollutants found in many offices, homes, hospitals and schools not only can trigger allergy and asthma symptoms but also cause them as well.
Solutions for the Prevention of Respiratory Disease
Maintaining good IAQ is by far the best way to prevent and treat CRD. Source capture systems help contain occupational dusts and fumes while air purifiers keep indoor air clean and safe for workers to breathe.
JetStream
Compact Dust Collector
Featuring a compact, space-saving design with a 2-stage filtration system (antimicrobial bag filter and certified HEPA filter). Whisper-quiet performance.
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AF 400
HEPA Air Purifier
Compact and powerful, the AF400 is ideal for localized chemical, odor and particle removal. 300 nominal CFM.
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AF 1000
HEPA Air Purifier
Enhanced protection against airborne pollutants including chemicals, gases, odors and particles. 600 nominal CFM.
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iVAC Compact
Self-Cleaning HEPA Dust Collector
Efficient debris removal system featuring a small footprint, front-facing digital (iSeries) control panel and medical-grade HEPA filter.
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