Asbestosis Symptoms and Asbestosis is a disease that results when a person constantly breathes in asbestos fibers over a long time. Asbestos is a natural substance that?s found in tiny amounts everywhere. It was much used in the United States because it?s heat and fire resistant, but it was found to cause problems when used industrially. For example, asbestos used to be used for insulation and even roofing in many homes. Some old homes still have asbestos insulation and roofs. Asbestos is harmless until it is disturbed. When it’s disturbed the microscopic fibers fill the air and can easily be breathed into the lungs. Though the body puts up a defense against the fibers, they?re difficult to eliminate. This leads to long term scarring of the passageways of the lungs and interferes with the ability of the patient to breathe. This is why if a homeowner wants to remove asbestos insulation they shouldn’t do it themselves but should call a company that specializes in asbestos removal.
Most asbestosis symptoms are found in men over 40 who’ve had many years of being exposed to asbestos at work. The condition is made much worse by smoking, poor diet and alcohol abuse.
Asbestosis Symptoms & what to look out for
Early asbestosis symptoms are shortness of breath, an unproductive cough and a general feeling of malaise. Later, the symptoms progress into insomnia, poor appetite, tightness or pain in the chest, hoarseness, coughing up blood and bluish nails. When a physician listens to the patient’s breathing they might hear a rattling sound in the lungs, called rales. Congestive heart failure is also a later symptom of asbestosis. Along with shortness of breath and cough, there’s fatigue, swelling of the abdomen, legs and ankles, irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, distended neck veins and an enlarged liver. Asbestosis may lead to lung cancer or mesothelioma, an uncommon cancer that attacks the lining of the lungs. Not only can asbestosis lead to lung cancers, but there?s also evidence that it can contributes to other cancers, like colon cancer. Other complications of asbestosis can be lung collapse, pneumonia and pleurisy. Pleurisy is the inflammation of the pleura, a two layered membrane that protects the lung and lines the inside of the chest. This condition causes pain in the chest while breathing or coughing. One complication of pleurisy are pleural effusions, which is when fluid collects between the membranes.
Asbestosis Symptoms & asbestosis
At this time asbestosis is considered incurable, but the symptoms can be controlled. If the patient has any sort of respiratory infection or breathing problems they should be careful to get medical treatment for it. This includes the common cold. Their physician can teach them how to practice bronchial drainage. They can also use a cool mist humidifier to loosen the bronchial secretions so they can be more easily coughed up. Medications can also be taken to thin out the mucus in the damaged lungs.
The physician may also prescribe antibiotics and bronchodilators that will open up the bronchial passageways. In an advanced case of Asbestosis Symptoms, oxygen might have to be used and in very severe cases the patient might be recommended for a lung transplant.
