Diseases Resulting From Exposure To Asbestos

By: Ralph Caruzzo

Although asbestos is no longer a commonly used material for building there has been a rise in the number of diseases caused by asbestos exposure. This is because the fibers that cause the problem take about 20 to 30 years to manifest. Thus, after a long period of dormancy the symptoms show up dramatically. What is even more dangerous is the fact that many of the symptoms are similar to other diseases, and so it is all the more difficult to find the real cause.

Asbestos is a material that was very popular as an insulator. It insulates very well, and it is fire retardant. As a result, it has been used in many buildings. Because asbestos is not a problem as long as it is not stirred up, many building that were built using it as insulation have not replaced the asbestos. But, exposure to this substance years ago may only now be manifesting itself in the form of cancer or even asbetosis (which cannot be cured).

People who work around old construction sites that involve demolition or remodeling are exposed to asbestos, as they inhale the small fibers. These microscopic fibers, inhaled through the mouth or nose are breathed into the body and come to rest in the lining of the lungs.

It takes decades to assess the damage caused by asbestos fibers. This explains why there has been an increase in the number of cases of poisoning. The symptoms are related to lung disease, which is difficult to diagnose in the initial stages.

The symptoms of diseases caused by asbestos fibers include increased shortness of breath over time and coughing. These symptoms come with other diseases, and are mistaken for less deadly illnesses. Since the symptoms do not appear to be too serious, they are often ignored. That is dangerous! So, when you experience a persistent cough or shortness of breath, get it checked at once.

Asbestos-related disease also causes more dangerous symptoms like hoarseness, chest pain and even coughing up of blood. Here again, these symptoms may get mistaken for other diseases. However, if such symptoms persist, you must take it seriously, especially if you feel you may have been exposed to asbestos at any point in your life. Remember to get all the proper tests and check ups done to rule out the possibility of asbestos poisoning.

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.

There is no cure for asbestos related illness. The symptoms can be treated, and if it develops into lung cancer, than surgery may be necessary, and chemotherapy can be tried. Leading a healthy lifestyle is paramount in controlling asbestos symptoms.

Article Source: http://www.retirementlivingarticledirectory.com

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. If you want to read more Asbestos articles go to: www.asbestoslead.com/articles
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