Pulmonary Function Tests in Hairdressers

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Original Article

Author Details : Muniyappanavar NS, Rajkumar R. Banner

Volume : 4, Issue : 3, Year : 2017

Article Page : 353-355

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Abstract

Introduction: Health of a person is largely affected by the environment in which they work, thus making occupation an important determinant of health. Hairdressing is a widespread occupation. Hairdressers are typically exposed to a cocktail of chemicals.
Aims and Objectives: To assess pulmonary functions among hairdressers and to compare them with matched control group.
Materials and Method: In this study pulmonary functions such as FVC, FEV_1, FEV₁/FVC, MMEF and PEFR parameters were studied in 52 hairdressers in the age group of 25-45 years. These parameters were compared with matched control group selected from general office going population using unpaired ‘t’ test.
Results The present study shows that among hairdressers and controls, hairdressers have statistically significant low values of forced vital capacity (FVC) (P=0.0215), Forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV₁) (P=0.0135), FEV₁/FVC (P=0.0001), Maximum Mid Expiratory Flow Rate (MMEF) (P=0.0212) and Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) (P=0.0034).
Conclusion: In the current study we identified the impact of hairdresser’s job on their pulmonary functions and found significantly lower PFT parameters in hairdressers than in the general office going population. This reduction in pulmonary function can be detected with spirometry before pulmonary functions are grossly impaired.

Keywords: Hairdressers; FEV1; FVC; MMEF; PEFR; Pulmonary Function Tests

How to cite : Muniyappanavar Ns, Banner R R, Pulmonary Function Tests in Hairdressers. Indian J Clin Anat Physiol 2017;4(3):353-355

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