Diseases Resulting From Exposure To Asbestos

The use of asbestos is not as common today as it used to be, yet there has been an increase in the number of cases affected by asbestos exposure. The reason for this is that asbestos related diseases have a long dormancy period and the fibers causing the problem take as long as 20 to 30 years to reveal themselves. The symptoms then suddenly develop like an onslaught once the dormant period is over. The other issue is that many of these symptoms are common to other diseases as well, making it difficult to identify the real cause.

Asbestos used to be a very popular insulation and fire retardant material used in buildings. Many buildings constructed earlier used it for insulation and have not replaced it even today because it does not cause any problem as long as it is not stirred up. But those who got exposed to it years ago may now be manifesting symptoms of cancer or the incurable asbestosis.

Asbestos is essentially microscopic fibers that can be inhaled through the nose or mouth. The fibers floating in the air can be breathed into the body and then get deposited in the lining of the lungs. Crews who work to demolish or remodel old construction sites are at high risk of exposure to these small fibers.

Since the illness takes decades to manifest, the damage is not immediately apparent. This can explain the rise in the number of poisoning cases today. Initially, the poisoning is likely to be diagnosed as lung disease since the symptoms are common.

The symptoms associated with asbestos-related illness include increased shortness of breath over time and coughing. These are symptoms that often accompany other diseases, and are often associated with less deadly illnesses. Many people feel that these are not serious symptoms and that they do not need to be addressed. Any time you experience a persistent cough or shortness of breath, however, it is important to be checked.

Other symptoms related to asbestos disease include chest pain, hoarseness, and coughing up blood. These symptoms can be considered more dangerous if persisting, although their cause not often construed to be asbestos. It is important to have proper tests run if you experience these symptoms and know that you have probably been exposed to asbestos at some point in your life.

Your doctor will be able to distinguish whether your problem is asbestos related or not. If you have been exposed to asbestos at any point in your life, you must discuss your problem with your doctor and see if you can get a referral to a specialist. The only way to treat such diseases is to catch signs of asbestos early.

The symptoms of asbestos related illness can be treated but there is no permanent cure. If the illness progresses into lung cancer, then surgery or chemotherapy may be required. The systems can also be controlled to a certain degree by leading a healthy lifestyle.

Article Source: Main Articles

About the author: Ralph Caruzzo is the chief writer at Asbestos & Lead, it's one of the webs most up to date Asbestos sites, why not sign up for the free Asbestos newsletter. Read many more interesting articles on Asbestos at: www.asbestoslead.com/articles
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