Miners: Life After Emergence

by KrisTina Antosik

On October 13th 2010, 33 Chilean minors were rescued after being trapped underground for over 2 months. According to CBS.com, medical experts state that the men ranging from the ages of 19 to 33, will experience a series of health complications.

According to ABC News, Dr. Schachter who is a medical director at Mt. Sinai in NYC, expects respiratory infections. Dr. Schachter is the director of respiratory care department. Such infections would due to the poor air quality in the mine.

Another concern is apparently fungal risks according to ABC News. Conditions such as "athlete's foot" and "jock itch" can potentially be experienced by the minors. Although not life-threatening such conditions are known to be extremely uncomfortable while taking months to disappear.

There's been a lot of speculation concerning the minors' eyes. Many worried that light exposure after months of darkness could result in retina damage. Yet, according to Ivan Schwab a professor of opthalmology in University of California Davis School of Medicine, their eyes should adapt over time just fine.

The last physical medical concern is the minors' teeth. Some of the minors reportedly have developed gingivitis according to ABC news. Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums.



Other than that, the minors seem to be doing well. Doctors state that they are looking at some unknowns considering it's the first time people have been rescued after being trapped for so long. However according to New York Daily News, the minors are doing much better then originally expected.

Edison Pena, 34, was 1 of the 33 trapped Chilean Miners. Pena is planning on running in the New York City Marathon on Sunday consisting of over 26 miles. According to USA Today, Pena stated that he would run 3 to 6 miles a day, in the darkness, while trapped underground for 69 days. Pena stated that before he was trapped he biked 2miles each way to work, which is why he was in such good shape. The other miners reportedly would yell "Beep Beep" as he ran by every day.


Expand Your Knowlege:
Pena's Goal

http://www.content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2010/11/chilean-miner-will-run-in-new-york-city-marathon/1

http://www.content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2010/11/30-stance-video-christine-brennan-on-tiger-woods-world-series-ratings-and-declan-sullivans-death/LINKABOUTPAGE

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