Shift work has been shown to be associated with heart and metabolic disorders. A recently published study reports exactly how shift work is causally related in the long-term to both diabetes and heart disease. Workers’ Compensation claims may increase for such diseases going forward for injured workers seeking benefits for such medical conditions.
Showing posts with label Heart Disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heart Disease. Show all posts
Monday, April 8, 2019
Wednesday, February 15, 2017
Occupational Exposure to Lead Continues to be a Serious Health Issue
The California Department of Health has reported that the workers' occupational exposure to lead continues to be a serious public health issue.
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Deaths Linked to Cardiac Stents Rise as Overuse Seen
Cardiovascular claims that are deemed compensable are costly medical and pharmaceutical claims. The procedures are expensive an risky and the pharmaceutical maintenance and monitoring is lifelong and expensive.Today's post is shared from Bloomberg.com
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When Bruce Peterson left the U.S. Postal Service after 24 years delivering mail, he started a travel agency. It was his dream career, his wife Shirlee said.
 Then he went to see cardiologist Samuel DeMaio for chest pain. DeMaio put 21 coronary stents in Peterson’s chest over eight months, and in one procedure tore a blood vessel and placed five of the metal-mesh tubes in a single artery, the Texas Medical Board staff said in a complaint. Unneeded stents weakened Peterson’s heart and exposed him to complications including clots, blockages “and ultimately his death,” the complaint said. DeMaio paid $10,000 and agreed to two years’ oversight to settle the complaint over Peterson and other patients in 2011. He said his treatment didn’t contribute to Peterson’s death. “We’ve learned a lot since Bruce died,” Shirlee Peterson said. “Too many stents can kill you.” Peterson’s case is part of the expanding impact of U.S. medicine’s binge on cardiac stents -- implants used to prop open the arteries of 7 million Americans in the last decade at a cost of more than $110 billion. When stents are used to restore blood flow in heart attack patients, few dispute they are beneficial. These and other acute cases account for about half of the 700,000 stent procedures in the U.S. annually. Among the other half -- elective-surgery patients in stable... |
Friday, September 27, 2013
United Airlines flight lands safely after pilot suffers heart attack
Safety in the air is of great concern.What is lacking is adequate access to medical care and resources on an urgent basis. This article is shared from Reuters.
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A United Airlines flight bound for Seattle with 165 people on board made an emergency landing at Boise Airport on Thursday evening after the pilot suffered a heart attack, an airport spokeswoman said.
The Boeing 737 landed safely shortly after 8 p.m. local time and the pilot was rushed to a local hospital, where his condition was unknown, Boise Airport spokeswoman Patty Miller said. "We got a call from United flight 1607 at about 7:55 p.m. Mountain Time declaring an emergency, they said the pilot had had a heart attack," Miller said, adding that the plane landed at 8:08 p.m. Click here to read the complete article. |
Thursday, August 22, 2013
NJ Court Sets the Evidentiary Proof Standard for a Pulmonary - Cardiovascular Claim
A NJ Workers' Compensation Court affirmed the dismissal of a pulmonary claim ruling that the evidence presented was lacking, and that the statutory limitations of expert medical fees do not act to the detriment of the injured worker in the proof of a workers' compensation claim.
"In her written opinion, the compensation judge found the testimony of Dr.Kritzberg more credible than that of Dr. Hermele. The judge found that petitioner's counsel “trie[d] to make it appear that petitioner presented to Dr. Hermele on his own for treatment. That is simply not true. Petitioner's counsel sent petitioner to Dr. Hermele. Dr. Hermele did not treat petitioner.” Additionally, of great significance to the compensation judge was the fact that petitioner had been treating with a cardiologist for twenty-three years, testified that he believed his breathing difficulties were related to his heart condition, and had never been treated for any pulmonary condition, despite testifying that his pulmonary complaints worsened in 1988, while continuing to work for respondent for eleven more years. The judge inferred that petitioner's cardiologist never referred him to a pulmonary specialist for treatment.
The Court also held that an "adverse inference" could be drawn when the injured worker does not offer supporting medical records into evidence to prove a claim.
"The compensation judge drew an adverse inference “from the fact the petitionernever produced a certified copy of the records from his treating cardiologist orhad Dr. Hermele review said records as part of his evaluation[,]” noting that Dr.Hermele readily admitted “there is a relationship between the heart and thelungs.”
Furthermore, the medical evidence presented at the time of trial, support the lack of causal relationship of a pulmonary medical condition caused by a pre-existing cardiovascular condition, rather than an independent pulmonary condition cause by exposure to industrial air pollution.
"Critical for the court were the chest x-rays taken of the petitioner which
showed that he did not have bi-lateral flattening of his diaphragm. If he
truly had pulmonary disease unrelated to his heart condition[,] you would expect
to find bi-lateral flattening of the diaphragm. Only the left side of petitioner's diaphragm was flattened[,] which is to be expected since both doctors
agreed petitioner has cardiomegaly (enlargement of the heart).....
Thursday, January 17, 2013
EPA Acts To Lower Toxic Old Diesel Engines in NY & NJ
Diesel engines are durable and often remain in use a long time. Older diesels that predate current and stricter air pollution standards emit large amounts of air pollutants. EPA grants such as those announced today are helping to reduce air pollution from some of the more than 11 million older diesel engines that continue to emit higher levels of pollution.
“EPA grants to replace dirty diesel engines with cleaner models protect people’s health, create jobs and cut fuel costs,” said EPA Regional Administrator, Judith A. Enck. “Older diesel engines generate significant amounts of air pollution that can make people sick. Replacing old polluting diesel engines reduces asthma attacks and other respiratory ailments, lost work days and many other health impacts every year.”
Conservation Law Foundation Ventures, a not-for-profit organization, will use a $1.3 million EPA grant to replace an old engine on the Coral Coast, a 120-foot marine tug boat that operates out of New York harbor, with a new and cleaner EPA-certified engine. The new engine is estimated to emit 70% less nitrogen oxides and 83% less particulate matter than the current engine. The project is expected to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides by 57.7 tons per year and particulate matter by 2.7 tons per year in addition to conserving 42,558 gallons of fuel annually.
The Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management will use a $1.4 million EPA grant to replace two old engines on locomotives operating in northern New Jersey with new and cleaner engines. The trains will also be equipped with either an automatic engine stop/start system or an auxiliary power unit, which will reduce idling. The new engines are estimated to reduce nitrogen oxides by as much as 12.8 tons per year and particulate matter by as much as 0.3 tons in addition to conserving 14,000 gallons of fuel per year.
The EPA grants to groups in New York and New Jersey announced today are part of nearly $30 million in grant funds awarded by the agency nationwide in 2012 for clean diesel projects.
For information about EPA’s clean diesel initiatives, visit: http://www.epa.gov/cleandiesel and the Northeast Diesel Collaborative http://www.northeastdiesel.org.
Read more about "diesel" and workers' compensation
Workers' Compensation: Diesel Exhaust Linked to Cancer
Jun 13, 2012
After a week-long meeting of international experts, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), today classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to ...http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/
Jun 13, 2012
After a week-long meeting of international experts, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), today classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to ...http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/
Apr 30, 2009
Diesel exhaust continues to be a major health hazard for certain workers. The American Lung Association has reported that, "Truck drivers, dockworkers and railroad workers may face higher risk of death from lung cancer and ...
Mar 14, 2012
Metro-North also must post an OSHA notice for employees in the Harmon Diesel Shop and on its internal website, and provide all diesel shop employees with information on employee protections for reporting work-related ...http://workers-compensation.blogspot.com/
Friday, April 6, 2012
Heart Disease Linked to Asbestos Exposure
Cardiovascular disease mortality among British asbestos workers (1971–2005)
Anne-Helen Harding, Andrew Darnton, John Osman, Occup Environ Med oemed-2011-100313 Published Online First: 2 April 2012doi:10.1136/oemed-2011-100313
"Objectives Asbestos is an inflammatory agent, and there is evidence that inflammatory processes are involved in the development of cardiovascular disease. Whether asbestos is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease has not been established. The objective of this study was to investigate cardiovascular disease mortality in a large cohort of workers occupationally exposed to asbestos.
"Methods Cardiovascular disease mortality in a cohort of 98 912 asbestos workers, with median follow-up of 19 years, was analysed. Unadjusted and smoking-adjusted standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated. The association between indicators of asbestosexposure and mortality was analysed with Poisson regression models, for deaths occurring during the period 1971–2005.
"Results Altogether 15 557 deaths from all causes, 1053 deaths from cerebrovascular disease and 4185 deaths from ischaemic heart disease (IHD) occurred during follow-up. There was statistically significant excess mortality from cerebrovascular disease (SMR: men 1.63, women 2.04) and IHD (SMR: men 1.39, women 1.89). Job and birth cohort were associated with the risk of cerebrovascular and IHD mortality in the Poisson regression model including sex, age, smoking status, job, cohort and duration of exposure. For IHD only, duration of exposure was also statistically significant in this model.
"Conclusions Cerebrovascular and IHD mortality was significantly higher among theseasbestos workers than in the general population and within the cohort mortality was associated with indicators of asbestos exposure. These findings provide some evidence that occupational exposure to asbestos was associated with cardiovascular disease mortality in this group of workers.
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For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered work related accident and injuries.Related articles
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
The Compensabilty of Death By Overwork
Late in the 1970s, serious social concern over health problems due to long working hours has arisen in Japan. This report briefly summarizes the Japanese circumstances about long working hours and what the Government has achieved so far. The national statistics show that more than 6 million people worked for 60 h or more per week during years 2000 and 2004.
Approximately three hundred cases of brain and heart diseases were recognized as labour accidents resulting from overwork (Karoshi) by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) between 2002 and 2005. Consequently, the MHLW has been working to establish a more appropriate compensation system for Karoshi, as well as preventive measures for overwork related health problems.
Approximately three hundred cases of brain and heart diseases were recognized as labour accidents resulting from overwork (Karoshi) by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) between 2002 and 2005. Consequently, the MHLW has been working to establish a more appropriate compensation system for Karoshi, as well as preventive measures for overwork related health problems.
In 2001, the MHLW set the standards for clearly recognizing Karoshi in association with the amount of overtime working hours. These standards were based on the results of a literature review and medical examinations indicating a relationship between overwork and brain and heart diseases. In 2002, the MHLW launched the program for the prevention of health impairment due to overwork, and in 2005 the health guidance through an interview by a doctor for overworked workers has been enacted as law.
Long working hours are controversial issues because of conflicts between health, safety, work-life balance, and productivity. It is obvious that we need to continue research regarding the impact on worker health and the management of long working hours.
Health Problems due to Long Working Hours in Japan: Working Hours, Workers’ Compensation (Karoshi), and Preventive Measures Industrial Health 2006, 44, 537–540
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For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered work related accident and injuries.
Monday, January 30, 2012
NFL Players Tackling Heart Disease
Many football players are essentially paid to be big—really big—especially those whose job is to block or stop the big guys on the other team. They also suffer from medical conditions that are work related and claim medical benefits and other benefits available under the Workers' Compensation Act.
There is a good chance that these players weigh in at sizes that are classified as obese as defined by body mass index (BMI). In the general population, high BMI generally correlates with high body fat, and we know that high body fat is a risk factor for death (mortality) and heart disease. Is the same true for elite athletes, for whom high BMI may relate to increased muscularity rather than increased body fat? What if the athlete plays a position where size simply matters, regardless of whether size is related to muscle or to body fat? And what happens when former athletes are no longer conditioning at their playing-day levels? Do professional football players die earlier than or more often from heart disease or cancer than the average American male? New research from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) helps answer these and other questions.
In 1994, NIOSH published research examining death rates and risk factors for former National Football League (NFL) players.1 At that time the research was based on all deaths that had occurred through 1991. After following these players for an additional 16 years, NIOSH has just published new research
on the topic in the American Journal of Cardiology.
on the topic in the American Journal of Cardiology. The study included 3,439 retired NFL players from the 1959 through 1988 seasons. The study found that:
- Players had a much lower overall rate of death compared to men in the general U.S. population of similar age and racial mix. On average, NFL players are actually living longer than the average American male. Out of the 3,439 players in the study, 334 were deceased. Based on estimates from the general population, we anticipated roughly 625 deaths.
- Players also had a much lower rate of cancer-related deaths compared to the general U.S. population. A total of 85 players died from cancer when we anticipated 146 cancer-related deaths based on estimates from the general population.
- Players who had a playing-time BMI of 30 or more had twice the risk of death from heart disease compared to other players. Similar findings have been noted in other studies. Offensive and defensive linemen were more likely to have a BMI greater than 30. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese in the general population whereas a healthy BMI is between 18.5-24.9.
- African American players had a 69% higher risk of death from heart disease compared to Caucasian players. The study controlled for player size and position and determined that those factors are not the reason for this difference.
- Defensive linemen had a 42% higher risk of death from heart disease compared to men in the general population. A total of 41 defensive linemen died of heart disease, when we anticipated 29 deaths based on estimates from the general population. Among the 41 defensive linemen who died of heart disease, 8 deaths were due to cardiomyopathy (a specific kind of heart disease that causes the heart to enlarge and can lead to heart failure). We anticipated fewer than two deaths from cardiomyopathy. We saw this increased risk only among the defensive linemen.
Source The NIOSH Science Blog
Read Also:
Body Mass Index, Playing Position, Race, and the Cardiovascular Mortality of Retired Professional Football Players"The initial cohort included 3,732 NFL players but 292 players with unknown race and 1 “player” who was actually a trainer were excluded. By the end of follow-up in 2007, the final cohort of 3,439 players contributed 104,776 person-years at risk and 334 deaths. On average the cohort was followed for 26.8 ± 8.7 years (mean ± SD) after retirement from the NFL. For players still alive, the median age at the study end date was 57 years; 60% of the players were white (including 15 Hispanics) and 39% were African-American..."
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Working Overtime Results in Compensation Heart Attack
Working overtime that resulted in a heart attack was deemed to be a compensable dependency claim.
"The compensation judge held that Anthony's overtime work contributed in a material way to his heart attack. In reaching that conclusion, the judge found that the work effort was more intense than the normal wear and tear of Anthony's daily living."
"The parties agree that the overtime work was more strenuous for Anthony than daily living tasks. Glen Gery required Anthony to change heavy paddles or blades that churned the water and shale. To access the blades, he was required to use a jackhammer to remove hardened material, each chunk weighing between thirty and forty pounds. Once the hardened material was removed, certain blades had to be replaced. To replace the blades, a shaft weighing approximately 200 pounds had to be lifted off the ground by at least two workers who were required to push, lift and pull until each new blade was secured. Anthony worked that day performing intense manual labor in a hot and dusty environment."
"Dr. Malcolm Hermele, petitioner's expert, opined that the heart attack occurred on the day Anthony worked overtime, and that his work effort contributed materially to it. Hermele pointed to the results of tests performed the day after Anthony worked overtime to prove when the heart attack occurred. A creatine kinase (CK) enzyme test showed a reading of 1453. A normal reading would be zero. He explained that the CK enzyme is released into the blood stream when there is damage to the heart. Anthony's troponim levels and the result of his brain natriuretic peptide test show that he was experiencing a heart attack. Hermele concluded that a 1453 reading was evidence that Anthony's heart attack occurred within a day or two of the test, during which Anthony performed the overtime maintenance work."
Reading v. Glen Gery Shale and Brick Company, Not Reported in A.3d, 2010 WL 4137298 (N.J.Super.A.D.)Decided October 21, 2010
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"The compensation judge held that Anthony's overtime work contributed in a material way to his heart attack. In reaching that conclusion, the judge found that the work effort was more intense than the normal wear and tear of Anthony's daily living."
"The parties agree that the overtime work was more strenuous for Anthony than daily living tasks. Glen Gery required Anthony to change heavy paddles or blades that churned the water and shale. To access the blades, he was required to use a jackhammer to remove hardened material, each chunk weighing between thirty and forty pounds. Once the hardened material was removed, certain blades had to be replaced. To replace the blades, a shaft weighing approximately 200 pounds had to be lifted off the ground by at least two workers who were required to push, lift and pull until each new blade was secured. Anthony worked that day performing intense manual labor in a hot and dusty environment."
"Dr. Malcolm Hermele, petitioner's expert, opined that the heart attack occurred on the day Anthony worked overtime, and that his work effort contributed materially to it. Hermele pointed to the results of tests performed the day after Anthony worked overtime to prove when the heart attack occurred. A creatine kinase (CK) enzyme test showed a reading of 1453. A normal reading would be zero. He explained that the CK enzyme is released into the blood stream when there is damage to the heart. Anthony's troponim levels and the result of his brain natriuretic peptide test show that he was experiencing a heart attack. Hermele concluded that a 1453 reading was evidence that Anthony's heart attack occurred within a day or two of the test, during which Anthony performed the overtime maintenance work."
Reading v. Glen Gery Shale and Brick Company, Not Reported in A.3d, 2010 WL 4137298 (N.J.Super.A.D.)Decided October 21, 2010
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For over 3 decades the Law Offices of Jon L. Gelman 1.973.696.7900jon@
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