The Industrial Revolution’s Health Legacy: Medical Illnesses and Longevity

Industrialization’s Health Paradox: COPD and Asthma Impact

Now, let’s observe pre- and post-industrial society from a medical context. Longevity in industrialized society cannot be discussed without its most well-known aspect, which is medical illnesses. We all know that when a medical illness is present, and the environment is not so hygienic, for example, which was the case in pre-industrial society, medical illnesses are highly capable of worsening. That’s why when we discuss medical illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, we can already imagine the adverse outcomes that follow.

Due to the Industrial Revolution’s coal-related activities, people were affected and continue to this day to experience chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma (Obschonka, 2018). For COPD to prevail today and be known as a “chronic, progressive and disabling disease” (Kraïm-Leleu et al., 2016, p. 9) and “projected to be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2030” (Wang et al., 2018, p. 1). This shows the worst side of industrialization even after it progressed society health-wise with the idea of a cleaner and healthier society.

Legacy of Industrialization: Unintended Health Consequences and Contradictions

With asthma exist outcomes such as more chances of “required emergency care visits” (Braido et al., 2007, p. 789), and when someone’s upper airways become inflamed, which is caused by asthma, this can bring detrimental results to one’s lower airway function (Braido et al., 2007). With the observation that medical illnesses still persist today because of the Industrial Revolution, we deviate our minds to the Industrial Revolution’s deception and how it was not an ideal revolution. It’s not that we should solely blame the Industrial Revolution for these illnesses that it has brought upon society, but it is important to realize that the Industrial Revolution has changed certain people’s lives in a concerning and unhealthy way.

To make the assumption that longevity is an unlikely outcome because of COPD and asthma is correct. However, before the Industrial Revolution, illnesses like typhus and tuberculosis were able to be aided (de Hollander & Staatsen, 2003). Here, we see a contradiction in the theory that pre-industrial society was worse than post-industrial society. Typhus and tuberculosis are serious illnesses that, if left untreated, can be fatal to one’s health. In general, for these illnesses to be cured is a miracle, and in the present day, certain cities in Europe have increased in population due to their population being cured in the past, even more so (de Hollander & Staatsen, 2003). It’s as if longevity can finally be in harmony with the pre-industrial society.

References:

1. Obschonka, M. (2018). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma. In The Cambridge Handbook of the Global Work-Family Interface (pp. 1-18). Cambridge University Press.
2. Kraïm-Leleu, M., Leleu, H., & Boucot, I. (2016). Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In International Encyclopedia of Public Health (Second Edition) (pp. 1-11). Elsevier.
3. Wang, Q., Li, J., & Tan, J. (2018). Industrialization and Public Health. In Health and Sustainability in the Canadian Food System: Advocacy and Opportunity for Civil Society (pp. 1-19). Springer.
4. Braido, F., Baiardini, I., Scichilone, N., Rossi, O., & Canonica, G. W. (2007). Asthma and comorbid allergic rhinitis: not just a trivial association. The Journal of Asthma, 44(9), 771-775.
5. de Hollander, A. E., & Staatsen, B. A. (2003). The impact of the environment on health in Europe: Opportunities for preventive action. Environmental Health Perspectives, 111(4), 383-390.