Most coal workers live with the fear of getting bronchitis due to the nature of their job. These workers have to work near piles of coal and often in storage area from where coal has to be pulled out or stored. Coal itself is not dangerous for health but it is the dust which is quite damaging. Near coal shipping terminals in Virginia experiments conducted on the local soil, proved the presence of coal dust and associated arsenic in local soil as harmful for health.
Coal if not coated properly will give off some dust which flies around the air before settling down. This dust enters the breathing airways and can cause serious damage to the lungs. A doctor needs to be consulted in case, one fears a bronchial attack, so proper diagnosis can take place. The bronchitis diagnosis includes tests done to the sputum, blood and chest x-rays.
In acute bronchitis, patients can do without any special treatment. All that is needed is plenty of rest and plenty of fluids such as water and fruit and vegetable juice. The patient's room has to be kept humid. This will help patient recover faster.
At times bronchitis can linger on and this can cause serious complications. At such times it is advisable to get help from a doctor. Coughing will surely disturb your sleep, and you can also have blood in your phlegm, or high fever. When the condition worsens it is best to consult your doctor.
Companies dealing with transportation of coal need to make sure that all coal is sealed properly to prevent any hazards to health. Where coal is stored a chemical is used to form a protective coating to prevent fugitive coal dust from damaging air quality.
