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Cardiovascular Disease 9/11 WTC First Responders
Is World Trade Center exposure on and after September 11, 2001, associated with long-term cardiovascular disease risk in Fire Department of the City of New York firefighters?
I posted a similar finding for WTC first responders but instead of an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), the increased risk was for a blood cancer called multiple myeloma.
My point in posting these studies is to document the health problems faced by the first responders of the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11.
The second article linked below is the reason for writing the first blog post about the 9/11 first responders to the WTC attacks. While I thought that an increased risk of MM might also lead to an increased risk of other blood cancers such as Leukemia and lymphoma, I never thought that the 9/11 first responders would live with an increased risk of all of the health problems listed below.
What are the documented health risks faced by the WTC first responders to the 9/11 attacks?
Respiratory and Pulmonary Issues
- World Trade Center Cough: A persistent cough caused by the inhalation of dust and debris.
- Asthma: Increased incidence of asthma and other reactive airway diseases.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Higher rates of COPD among first responders.
- Interstitial Lung Disease: Including pulmonary fibrosis and sarcoidosis.
Cancer
- Respiratory and Digestive Tract Cancers: Elevated risks of lung, esophageal, and colorectal cancers.
- Hematologic Cancers: Increased incidences of leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
- Thyroid Cancer: Higher rates of thyroid cancer have been observed.
Mental Health Issues
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): Many first responders suffer from PTSD due to the traumatic experiences.
- Depression and Anxiety: Increased rates of depression and anxiety disorders.
- Substance Use Disorders: Higher prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse as a coping mechanism.
Cardiovascular Issues
- Heart Disease: Increased risk of heart disease, potentially linked to the stress and physical exertion during the rescue efforts.
Gastrointestinal Issues
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Many responders developed GERD, possibly due to stress and exposure to irritants.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
- Injuries and Chronic Pain: Physical injuries from the rescue and recovery efforts, leading to chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders.
Other Conditions
- Sleep Disorders: Issues such as insomnia and sleep apnea have been reported.
- Chronic Fatigue: Persistent fatigue is a common complaint among responders.
I guess my thinking is that by collecting and writing about all of the health risks faced by 9/11 first responders, I may be able to educate people like me who would never understand the magnitude of the problem otherwise.
I make it a point to include therapies- conventional, alternative or complimentary, shown to help the health problem that I write about. Unfortunately, there is such a breadth of problems listed above that I don’t know where to start when talking about possible theories for the 9/11 first responders.
Thank you first responders.
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Long-term Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among Firefighters After the World Trade Center Disaster
“Question- Is World Trade Center exposure on and after September 11, 2001, associated with long-term cardiovascular disease risk in Fire Department of the City of New York firefighters?
Published studies examining the association between World Trade Center (WTC) exposure on and after September 11, 2001, and longer-term cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes have reported mixed findings…
Relevance The findings of the study suggest a significant association between greater WTC exposure and long-term CVD risk. The findings appear to reinforce the importance of long-term monitoring of the health of survivors of disasters…
Conclusions-We observed that acute WTC dust exposure, as well as repeated exposures over the months of cleanup, may be associated with elevated CVD risk throughout 16 years of longitudinal follow-up. The findings appear to reinforce the importance of long-term monitoring of the health of survivors of disasters. Future studies are warranted to address whether identifying and addressing changes in other CVD risk factors can mitigate elevated CVD risk associated with disaster exposure.”
World Trade Center responders may face increased cancer burden, elevated myeloma risk
“Rescue and recovery workers who responded to the World Trade Center site after 9/11 will experience a greater cancer burden over the next 20 years than a demographically similar population, according to research published in JAMA Oncology.
The study projected incidence of prostate cancer, thyroid cancer and melanoma among New York City Fire Department (FDNY) employees who worked at the World Trade Center site will exceed typical rates in the city.