How is black lung disease diagnosed?

How is black lung disease diagnosed?

Roy Artal (Pulmonologist and Critical Care Physician) gives expert video advice on: How does coal dust affect the lungs?; How is black lung disease prevented?; How common is black lung disease? and more...

Black Lung Disease is diagnosed first and foremost on a basis of a history which is compatible with that condition. If somebody has not had any type of significant coal exposure or carbon exposure in the air that they have been breathing, then the likelihood that they have any type of related disease is really miniscule. So first and foremost, it's a history that is compatible with that disease and then a combination of a physical examination, pulmonary function testing and radiography which include chest x-rays as well as CAT scans.