Browsing by Subject "Firefighter"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Health of Indiana Firefighters
    (2020-12) Muegge, Carolyn Marie; Song, Yiqing; Zollinger, Terrell W.; Wessel, Jennifer; Monahan, Patrick O.
    Background: Firefighters are exposed to carcinogens, toxic agents, and other risks for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Research shows that aero-digestive and genitourinary cancers are in excess among firefighters compared to the general population. Studies examining excess cardiovascular mortality are inconsistent. Limited data exist on chronic disease mortality, risk factor profiles, and barriers to a healthy lifestyle among firefighters at the local level. Purpose: This project examines the relationship between firefighting and chronic disease mortality, determines trajectories of cardiovascular risk factors in a cohort of new firefighters, and studies the relationship between barriers to weight management and firefighter health characteristics. Methods: This study used death certificate data from the Indiana State Department of Health and clinical data from a large occupational medical practice serving firefighters. Regression techniques were used to examine excess mortality among firefighters compared to non-firefighters, evaluate changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors among new firefighters over time, and explore correlates of risk factors and barriers to weight management among overweight and obese firefighters. Results: The odds of death due to malignant cancers were significantly higher among firefighters than non-firefighters (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.08-1.30). Body mass index, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels increased significantly (p<0.001) while HDL cholesterol levels decreased (p<0.001) from baseline during the first 10 years of the firefighter’s career. Overweight firefighters who were “ready to begin a weight management program” were more likely to identify ‘‘lack of knowledge about weight management,’’ ‘‘lack of access to exercise opportunities,’’ and ‘‘eating helps me cope with stress’’ as barriers, and report a greater number of barriers to weight management. Older firefighters were less likely to identify or report one or more barriers to weight management. Conclusion: These studies suggest the importance of early-career and targeted cardiometabolic health and cancer prevention strategies to reduce chronic disease morbidity and mortality among firefighters.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The physics of human breathing: flow, timing, volume, and pressure parameters for normal, on-demand, and ventilator respiration
    (IOP, 2021-09-27) Pleil, Joachim D.; Wallace, M. Ariel Geer; Davis, Michael D.; Matty, Christopher M.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Normal breathing for healthy humans is taken for granted; it occurs without conscious effort using ambient (1-atmosphere) pressure with 21% oxygen (O2) concentration. The body automatically adjusts for stress, exercise, altitude, and mild disease by increasing the volume and frequency of breathing. Longer term adaptations for exercise and altitude include increases in red blood cell counts and higher concentrations of capillaries in muscle tissue. When more challenging external environmental conditions or pulmonary illnesses exceed the capability for these adaptations, the human system requires technology to maintain sufficient ventilation to preserve life. On the environmental side there are two conditions to be addressed: toxicity of the surrounding atmosphere and changes in external pressure and O2concentration. On the medical side, mechanisms for assisting breathing include O2supplementation at ambient pressure, positive pressure/flow without additional O2, or a combination of both. This overview describes the various technologies applied to maintaining a safe breathing environment. Topics for environmental intervention include filter-based and flowing air-supply masks for toxic environments (occupational and laboratory protection), and on-demand gas supply systems for firefighters, self-contained underwater breathing apparatus divers, and altitude (high performance aircraft, spacecraft) applications. The topics for medical intervention include nasal cannula, continuous positive airway pressure, and medical ventilators. The primary purpose of this article is to provide a basic understanding of normal human breathing and the adaptation of breathing in different environments using available technologies.