What are the current treatment methods for pneumoconiosis?
Once pneumoconiosis has formed, it is almost equivalent to diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, which is also equivalent to a "cancer that does not kill." Treatment, nursing care and prevention need to be carried out in combination. In particular, it is best to move away from all the factors that cause pneumoconiosis, such as changing jobs for those engaged in dust work, complete smoking cessation for those addicted to cigarettes, and so on; for more severe patients, rest and recuperation should be taken when necessary, and treatment can prevent and stop complications from occurring.
In terms of treatment, it can be divided into self-treatment, drug treatment, surgical treatment and so on. Self-treatment can begin by mentally building up heroic confidence and high fighting spirit to overcome the disease. And, within the limits of one's physical ability, do breathing exercises, breathing gymnastics, health gymnastics, tai chi, swimming, fencing and so on, and go as much as possible to parks, forests and other places with abundant negative oxygen ions to move about and exercise, supplying sufficient oxygen and revitalising physiological functions.
In terms of drug treatment, it is divided into Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. Western medicine mainly treats the symptoms, such as keshiping, tetrandrine, aluminium preparations and so on, and can also delay the progression of pneumoconiosis. In terms of traditional Chinese medicine treatment, there are many kinds; traditional Chinese medicine can, through methods such as moistening dryness and removing toxin, softening hardness and dispersing nodules, removing dampness and resolving phlegm, eliminating accumulation and regulating qi, and activating blood and unblocking collaterals, treat the root cause and remove the root. Comprehensive treatment through traditional Chinese medicine magnetic therapy, acupuncture and moxibustion and so on can also be used.
Treating pneumoconiosis with traditional Chinese medicine is also like a vast world: it treats the symptoms and also stimulates physiological functions, like attacking the disease with the exterior and interior united as one. But for the late stage of pneumoconiosis in which fibrosis is already complete, patients have generally already lost the inner drive for self-therapies such as activity and exercise, and drug treatment has also lost its meaning, so it is necessary to choose surgical treatment such as surgical removal of the diseased part and lung transplantation. For the pathology of localised severe pneumoconiosis fibrosis, adopting surgical treatment also has a certain value and necessity.