COPD Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Study Shows Coal Miners Face Higher Risk Of Death From Lung Disease

The University of Illinois Chicago and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied more than 235,000 coal miners who died between 1979 and 2017.

This story was updated to note that coal miners were found to have a lower risk of dying from heart disease, not of developing it.

A federal government study shows that coal miners face a higher risk for death from lung disease, including black lung.

Coal miners born in 1940 or after have an eight times greater likelihood of dying from nonmalignant respiratory disease than the general population.

The University of Illinois Chicago and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied more than 235,000 coal miners who died between 1979 and 2017.

The study found they had far greater odds of dying of black lung, COPD and lung cancer than the general population. Modern miners face greater risk than their predecessors, and the risk is concentrated in three Appalachian states: Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.

Severe black lung disease, which is caused by inhalation of mine dust, is more frequent in younger miners, the study found.

The only bright spot: coal miners were found to have a lower risk of dying from heart disease than the general population.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration is expected to issue a new rule on coal dust exposure in mines.

Breathing Program Designed For Rural Healthcare Providers

Nearly 175,000 West Virginians have been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease — also known as COPD. But experts believe many more may have the disease without knowing it.

COPD, which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, is the third leading cause of disease-related death in the U.S.

The American Lung Association in West Virginia has unveiled the new Reaching Rural Providers initiative, which is designed to increase early diagnosis of COPD in rural communities by educating healthcare professionals about the disease.

“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, West Virginia is one of seven states with the highest estimates for COPD diagnosis, hospitalizations and death, and our rural communities are harder hit,” said Deborah Brown, chief mission officer for the lung association. “In rural areas, COPD rates are twice as high as the overall population. The good news is that COPD is treatable when diagnosed early. Many people don’t recognize the symptoms of COPD until later stages of the disease, so it is critical for our rural healthcare providers to be educated on the latest symptoms, as well as the newest treatments and medications for the disease.”

The Lung Association’s new Reaching Rural Providers initiative works to increase early diagnosis of COPD in rural communities across the nation.

Resources are available nationwide, but additional focus will be on rural communities in six states with the highest estimates for COPD diagnosis, hospitalizations and death, which include Alabama, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Providers can access and download the free resources at Lung.org/COPD-rural.

New COPD Clinic Opens In Lincoln County

Today marked the ribbon cutting ceremony for a pulmonary rehabilitation center in Lincoln County. Named after Grace Anne Dorney – a COPD patient and wife of longtime Nightline anchor Ted Koppel – the new clinic will provide exercise, education and support to help patients learn to breathe better.

Advocates for the program call it “life changing” and working to open new centers around the state.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD, affects more than 10 percent of West Virginians. It is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

Despite the high numbers, few programs exist to help rehabilitate COPD patients.This is the fourth Grace Anne Dorney Center in West Virginia. The others are at Cabin Creek Health, New River Health, and Boone Memorial Hospital.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.