Asbestos Exposure: A Simple Definition

The Risks of Asbestos Exposure Asbestos poses little risk unless the tiny fibers break down and become airborne. People who work with asbestos or smokers, as well as those suffering from lung diseases are at the highest risk. Second-hand exposure can be caused by workers bringing home asbestos particles in their footwear, clothing or hair, or by laundering facilities that wash their clothes with asbestos. Family members can also be affected by this kind of exposure. Symptoms When asbestos breaks apart or is disturbed, it releases tiny fibers into the air. They can be breathed in. Once inhaled these fibers may get stuck in the lungs and irritate lung tissue. Asbestosis, or scarring of the lungs, can result. It can make it difficult for oxygen and carbon dioxide to move through and out of the lung. This can cause serious and life-threatening problems such as asbestosis and lung cancer. Asbestosis typically occurs following heavy, long-term exposure. The most commonly reported symptoms of asbestosis are difficulty breathing. Other signs include chest pain, coughing and a blue-tinged tint on the skin due to a lack of oxygen. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can be a threat to the linings of the chest cavity, lungs and abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed after 30 to 40 years of exposure. It tends to be fatal. A medical examination is recommended for people who have been exposed asbestos. Based on the person's work background and other factors, doctors can determine whether further testing is needed. This could include chest Xrays or a CT scan or a lung function test. An X-ray or chest CT scan can reveal changes in the lungs associated with asbestos exposure. However, these changes may not be noticeable to the patient. These changes can be identified by doctors who are experts in asbestos-related illnesses. The symptoms of lung disease due to asbestos exposure can take a long time to develop, which is why many people don't know they're affected until it is too late. Other symptoms of asbestos exposure, in addition to lung fibrosis, include breathing problems or chest pain abdomen, persistent cough weight loss, and fever. Anyone who has been exposed to the flu should receive the flu vaccine as well as a pneumonia vaccination. This will help avoid respiratory infections that could make their health worse. It is also important to wash their hands often to lower the chance of getting a respiratory infection. They should be part of an organization that helps those who suffer from asbestos-related ailments. Treatment Asbestos is known to cause a myriad of health issues. The severity of health problems is dependent on how long and what kind of asbestos the person has been exposed to. It can trigger respiratory diseases such as asbestosis and Pleural effusions. It is also a cause of mesothelioma – an uncommon cancer that affects the linings of the chest and abdomen. It can also lead to cancer of the gastrointestinal tract as well as kidneys. Your physician will recommend treatment options to control symptoms, and prevent complications, if you've been diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition. These treatments can include medications and procedures like occupational therapists, pulmonary rehabilitation and lung transplants. You can also join support groups to discuss your symptoms. People who have been exposed to asbestos for many years are at risk of developing a number of health conditions including mesothelioma and lung cancer as well as asbestosis. Smokers are at greater risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses because smoking cigarettes can cause irritation to lung. Latency period is the time it takes for symptoms to appear. The earliest symptoms of asbestos exposure include breathing problems and chest pain. These are a result of the scarring that damages the lungs and makes it hard to breathe. As the disease advances, symptoms can worsen. A person may even feel breathless at the couch. They might also experience fatigue, fever, and weight loss. Asbestosis isn't curable, but certain treatments can help alleviate symptoms and improve the quality of life for sufferers. Doctors may prescribe aerosol medicine to thin lung fluids and patients suffering from severe symptoms may receive oxygen via a tube in their nose. Regular blood tests and X rays can be used to track the condition, and to identify any potential complications. It is essential to maintain a good diet and exercise, as this can help keep a person healthy. Stress can cause symptoms to worsen, so it is important to avoid stress. Diagnosis The most frequent symptom associated with asbestos exposure is difficulty breathing. This is due to tiny asbestos fibers can stay in the lungs for a long time, even after the exposure has ended. Because the lungs were not designed to remove foreign materials and irritate the lungs, they aggravated over time. This condition is known as asbestosis, also known as pulmonary fibrosis. The symptoms of asbestos poisoning may last for up to forty years before they appear. This is one of the reasons why asbestos exposure is often not detected for many years, even by people who were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis. When asbestos is released into the air, the tiny fibers can be breathed in. The majority of these fibers will be removed through coughing or mucus however some will escape the system and become lodged in the lung. This can result in a variety of ailments that affect lung function. These include lung cancer as well as mesothelioma, a fatal cancer that attacks the lining of internal organs, called the mesothelium. Lung cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as it is often a sign of other illnesses, including chronic coughing, weight loss and chest pain. In addition, the risk of lung cancer increases the more one is exposed to asbestos and other carcinogens, like cigarette smoke. Asbestosis can develop over the course of several years after initial exposure and is usually detected through a medical exam, work history, chest xray or CT scan and tests for lung enzymes. Asthma sufferers may be at a higher risk of developing asbestosis. Corpus Christi asbestos lawsuits -related illness is mesothelioma. It forms in the lining of the lungs and other organs within the body. It can also develop in the larynx and ovaries. Anyone with an asbestos-related history are at a higher risk of developing this type of cancer and other types of mesothelioma, which attack the stomach lining and the intestines. It may take several years for mesothelioma development. Therefore, it is essential that people who have had a history of asbestos exposure go through regular health examinations. The following is a list of preventions. Many homes and buildings built prior to 1970 contain materials like asbestos pipes or floor tiles that remain in good condition. As long as these materials aren't damaged, they do not pose a health risk. They pose a health risk when they are damaged or deteriorated. This is because they release tiny asbestos fibres into the air, which can then be inhaled or consumed. The health risks are high and it is important to have asbestos materials that are suspected of being examined, tested, or removed by professionals. Asbestos fibers will only cause a disease when inhaled or ingested, and then lodged in the lung tissue. This can lead to a variety of illnesses including mesothelioma (lung cancer) asbestosis (scarring on the lung) and many more. These conditions usually don't manifest symptoms until several years after the initial exposure. Asbestos-related diseases are typically caused by occupational exposure. Asbestos exposure can occur in a variety of occupations, including mine workers, insulation contractors construction workers, asbestos abatement workers and custodial and maintenance workers. Even if workers are properly trained and are wearing personal protective equipment, they can be exposed to asbestos if the material is disturbed or damaged in any way to release the microscopic fibers into air. The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may be noticed between 15 and 50 years after exposure. This is known as the latency period. In addition to occupational exposure, it is also possible for people to be exposed through the water route by drinking water contaminated with asbestos due to erosion of natural land resources, or as a result of discarded mining or mill tailings or the disintegration of asbestos cement pipe that is carried by rainwater. Ingestion can also occur through accidental consumption of food items contaminated like clams and other seafood, which were washed down with the contaminated water. The greatest asbestos threat is present for those who are involved in the demolition and repair of structures that could contain asbestos, as well as those who handle waste that is contaminated. The most at risk are those who worked following the September 11 attacks on New York City, and those involved with rescue cleanup, recovery, or cleanup efforts. When working with asbestos, it is recommended that individuals wear protective clothing for their entire body and use a high-quality face mask. Those who work with asbestos should also have adequate ventilation.