Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by exposure to asbestos, which can lead to lung cancer. Symptoms include shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pain. There is no cure, but respiratory treatments and humidifiers can help. Smokers with asbestosis are advised to quit immediately.
Asbestosis is a lung disease associated with exposure to asbestos products. As researchers at Creighton’s School of Medicine stated,
“Asbestosis is a fibrosis or scarring of lung tissue”.
Asbestos is a useful, heat-retardant product made from fibrous materials mined from mines around the world. Asbestos, while useful, poses serious medical risks to anyone exposed to it. Individuals suffering from asbestosis are five times more likely, according to the Creighton researchers,
develop tumors or lung cancer than those not exposed to asbestos.
In general, the nose and bronchial tubes act as filters and prevent many particles from entering the lungs. However, asbestos fibers are long, thin and microscopic. They easily slip through the filters and enter the lungs, where the problems start. Researchers say asbestosis is most often found in people who are frequently exposed to this hazardous material. This group includes auto mechanics, shipyard workers, electricians, and other construction tradesmen.
Symptoms of asbestosis may appear some time after exposure. In many cases symptoms do not appear until 10 years later, and it is not uncommon to find symptoms appearing 20 years after exposure. According to researchers, the common symptoms of asbestosis are:
shortness of breath
persistent and productive cough
painful spasms
chest pain or tightness
a loss of appetite
There is no cure for asbestosis right now. The disease tends to progress with age and the condition rarely improves or goes away. Respiratory treatments can be used to remove buildups in the lungs. Humidifiers are also helpful in relieving coughs and other discomforts.
Smokers who develop asbestosis are advised to stop smoking immediately. Otherwise, the combination of asbestosis combined with smoke inhalation can prove to be even more toxic and cause asbestosis to rapidly reach advanced stages. According to researchers, a person who has asbestosis and who smokes is 55 times more likely to develop cancer than a non-smoker who does not suffer from asbestosis.
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