A quarter-century later, Giuliani tries to join 9/11 health program

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4. Maybe but alcoholism can lead to restrictive lung disease by impairing lung function and increasing

susceptibility to infections. His alcoholism has been well documented. Chronic alcohol use negatively affects respiratory health, potentially causing irreversible damage to the lungs, thereby increasing susceptibility to infections and can have a worse prognosis from pneumonia.

The mechanisms through which alcoholism affects lung health include increases in oxidative stress to the lungs, damaging cells, impairing their function, altering the production of cytokines which impairs immune function and increasing susceptibility to pneumonia.

Worse still, alcoholics have a higher mortality rate from pneumonia due to weakened immune responses as well as to ARDS (Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome)--a potentially deadly complication leading to rapid lung failure.

Can I say with assuredness that he did not suffer exposure to the toxic components from 911? No. But, I can say his alcoholism is likely a major, if not THE MAJOR factor in his lung disease.