Cardiovascular Disease in Firefighters

Informational Research Essay Research & Writing Health Sciences ENG 1121 Cardiovascular malady in Firefighters Firefighting put ons techniques and equipment to sackcel out fires, protect and limit damages to valuables, assist in other emergencies and ultimately save lives. The main basis in firefighting is to extinguish the fire by removing one or more of the three components that causes combustion, which argon fire up, oxygen or fuel. The modernization of industrialized life has requi chromatic firefighters to wrick more trained and physic entirelyy fit to operate existing technologies and security system against prominent wellness hazards.In this essay, I will be discussing the three immense term health fortunes of Firefighters high-stress, cardiovascular risks, and cardiovascular disease associated with firefighting. There argon many factors that contribute to the risk of cardiovascular disease in firefighters. The write out over the last 20 years for percent of deaths d ue to whatever form of cardiovascular disease has ranged from approximately 35% to 53% of all deaths, (Pendergast, 2004, p. 6) in firefighter fatalities. CVD have-to doe withs the cardiovascular system hindering the normal functions of the heart, witticism and other vital organs.In most instances, ischemia and hypoxemia be the main causes of CVD. ischaemia is the insufficient blood flow in providing adequate oxygenation to vital organs, thus, in turn, causes hypoxemia (low blood oxygen) and tissue hypoxia. When tissue hypoxia occurs in the heart, arrhythmia (fibrillation of the heart) is likely to occur, followed by a myocardial infraction. In some cases, ischemia does not indispensability to be a contributing factor for CVD, for example, anemia (lack of healthy red blood carrels) may be more prevalent than ischemia.Due to the amount of risk factors researched, risk factors were categorized into three parts Personal (advancing age, gender, underlying health conditions, hyperte nsion, smoking, sleep ails, obesity and lack of exercise), workplace factors (exposure to toxic emissions, heating stress, somatogenic exertion and noise exposure), and Physical & Psychological stressors (work environment factors, environmental hazards and psychological stress). Out of all the personal factors listed, smoking, obesity and lack of exercise seem to be the more prevalent factors to increase firefighters skill to CVD.Smoking in general has always been used by the public as a way to cope with stress. Being that firefighting is one of the most nerve-wracking jobs in North America, smoking is likely to be a coping mechanism for firefighters, thus, adding the CVD risk by twofold. Smokers have been shown to have elevated light speed monoxide levels in their blood and this is known to lead to chronic artery obstruction. (Pendergast, 2004, p. 23) additive factors argon, obesity and a lack of exercise. The prevalence of obesity and high essential cholesterol levels w ere higher in firefighters, relative to the general population. (Byczek, 2004, p. 67) The physical and furious demands for firefighting requires a high level of physical fitness, as well as physical strength and agility. Furthermore, they must wear heavy personal safety-related equipment and carry tools through intense heat. At any scene, in that locations always a level of danger that the firefighters keep in mind. Dangers take on the possibility of exposure to toxic materials and gases. Self-contained breathing apparatus use has reduced, but not eliminated chemical exposures including carbon monoxide, particulates and other toxicants. (Kales, 2004, p 68) characterization to high levels of carbon monoxide reduces oxygen delivery to the heart. When attacking a fire, heat stress and physical exertion are two of the most putting green factors that contribute to CVD risk. Heat stress and fluid losses can essence in decrease in the cardiac output despite carry on tachycardia. (K ales, 2003) Blood flow decreases as the body attempts to cool down by expanding the capillaries, allowing more blood to surface to the dermis. This action cause low pressure, bandage the heart struggles to compensate by beating rapidly. Firefighters are stressed by their own station environment, their protective gear, their officers and leaders, current management style, coworkers, and the stress of going away their family and loved ones during natural and manmade disasters. (Shantz, 2002 p3) Stress plays a crucial CVD risk factor, yet, there are two distinct types of stress that affects firefighters. Work environment factors affect firefighters psychologically whereas environmental hazards cause physical stress. Traumatic events of critical incidents are experienced by everyone at least one time in their lives.After an incident, people may experience strong emotional and physical reactions. These reactions are quite common and may take weeks or months to recover. But with firefig hters, traumatic events are more common, and emotional aftershocks tend to build up overtime without given time to rest up. When left untreated, it cause post-traumatic disorder, which can play a significant role in the risk of CVD. environmental hazards are the hazards that affect firefighters physically by situations on the fire ground.Hazards allow heat stress and intense physical exertion. A combination of heat stress amd excessive physical strain causes an inadequate oxygenation of the blood, the body releases erythropoietin to fix more red blood cells, in turn, counteracts the inadequacy of oxygen in the blood. This homeostasis reaction cause polycythemia when the firefighter is at rest. Polycythemia is a blood disorder that causes blood flow to decrease due to an increase of red cell production. Symptoms include weakness, fatigue, headache, itching, joint pain and dizziness.The prevalence of high stress in firefighters has been found to be directly co-related to the cardio vascular risks that are prominent in firefighting activities. Men and woman in firehouses across North America paid, on-call and career, condense many different forms of occupational stress. Yet, the lack of physical fitness among firefighters is the star cause of cardiovascular disease. References Byczek, L. , Walton, S. , Conrad, K. , Reichelt, P. , & Samo, D. (2004). Cardiovascular risks in firefighters implications for occupational health hold in practice. AAOHN Journal, 52(2), 66-76. Kale, S. N. Soteriades, E. S. , Christoudias, S. G. , & Christiani, D. C. (2003, September). Firefighters and on-duty deaths from coronary heart disease a case control study. Boston, MA The Cambridge Health Alliance. Retrived, touch 28, 2013 from http//www. ehjournal. net/content/2/1/14 Pendergast, D. A. (2004). The leading cause of death of American firefighters in the 21st ampere-second a study of the impact of occupational stress on cardiovascular disease. East Derry Fire Department. Shantz , M. C. (2002). Effect of work related stress on firefighter/paramedic. Eastern Michigan University School of Fire Staff and Command.Retrived, March 28, 2013 from http// http//www. emich. edu/cerns/downloads/papers/FireStaff/Stress,%20Fitness,%20Wellness/Effect%20of%20Work%20Related%20Stress%20on%20the%20Firefighter%20Paramedic. pdf Staley, J. A. , Weiner, B. , & Linnan, L. (2011). Firefighter fitness, coronary heart disease, and sudden cardiac death risk. American Journal Of Health Behavior, 35(5), 603-617. Sweeney, P. (2012). Firefighters at risk The interdict effects of stress and trauma on the human spirit. The Sweeney Alliance, 19. Retrived from http//sweeneyalliance. org/grievingbhindthebadge/firefighters-at-risk/