Asbestosis and Symptoms

Asbestosis

It often takes years of exposure for asbestosis to surface but it can quickly worsen,  if exposure continues.Basically put, asbestosis is a breathing disorder caused by inhaling high levels of asbestos.  The buildup of these fibers in the lungs causes scarring of lung tissue & makes it difficult to breathe.

Who Gets Asbestosis?

Those at the highest risk for developing the disorder probably worked with asbestos or asbestos-containing products on a every day basis for at least 8 to 10 years.Miners may create the disorder in less time.

Asbestosis is  always job-related & plenty of of the victims are older individuals who were exposed to asbestos at work before the United States began to regulate its use in the mid-1970s.  This naturally-mined material was used extensively in the construction & manufacturing businesses,  as pipe insulation, in fire-retardant materials, as floor & ceiling tiles, & in brake & clutch linings.

Symptoms

Shortness of breath
Decreased tolerance for physical activity
Coughing
Chest pain
Finger clubbing, in some cases
Diagnosis

When thinking about a diagnosis of asbestosis, your doctor will probably inquire as to your exposure to asbestos.  He/she may also ask whether any fellow employees have been affected by the disease.  Your doctor may then order tests to confirm the diagnosis, including pulmonary function tests, CT scans, and chest x-rays.

When destroy and scarring caused by inhaled asbestos fibers lead to stiffness in your lung tissue so that your lungs cannot contract and expand normally, you will start experience symptoms of the disorder, which may include:

Treatment
The affects of asbestosis cannot be reversed but progression can be halted and symptoms treated.  Above all us, further exposure to the toxic material ought to be eliminated.  If you smoke, it's necessary to cease immediately.  Doctors may also treat you with medications that expand or relax blood vessels, and/or blood-thinners that prevent blood clots from forming and obstructing narrowed vessels.