COMMON OCCUPATIONAL LUNG DISORDERS IN CURRENT INDIAN POPULATION AND PRINCIPLES OF AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT

Occupational lung diseases are caused primarily as a result of exposure to risk factors arising from the work envi- ronment. Persons with few weeks of exposure to workplace hazards may experience mild symptoms, whereas long term exposure results in a complicated presentation like severe respiratory debilitation and even death. Occupational lung diseases may be misdiagnosed as COPD or other diseases, which leads to delay in the identification of the etiological factors. There is no treatment for any of the occupational lung diseases that can reverse the damage already done. So, prevention of occupational exposure is the primary strategy in these ailments. In the present era, people are turning towards Ayurveda for chronic disease management, so a long-term approach to these could bebeneficial in the management of occupational lung diseases. So, it's the need of the hour for an Ayurvedic physician to be accustomed to occupational diseases and their management through Ayurveda.Keywords: Occupational lung disorders, Ayurveda for OLD, Yoga and Pranayama.