The Lingering Legacy Of Asbestos
Before scientists and doctors discovered how extremely dangerous it is, asbestos was commonly used as a building material. Fatal and severe illnesses cropped up in almost all the people that were exposed to it at some point in their lives. Though it was thought to be a superb for buildings, the negative health consequences counteracted any of its positive values.
All available forms of asbestos have now been linked to non-cancerous and cancerous lung diseases. There is usually a period of approximately 20 years, between exposure and disease development. Lung diseases are, of course, the most common. The removal of asbestos in buildings now requires the following of very careful safety measures.
Asbestos fibers irritate the lungs and commonly cause the formation of scar tissue. Shortness of breath is a frequent symptom of asbestos related illnesses. Sufferers can find themselves unable to go up even one flight of stairs, without panting.
Since the fibers have amassed in the lungs, coughing is usually another related symptom. Coughing is a natural reflex action, our bodies use it to try to expel irritants of any type from the lungs. You should definitely see a physician if you have been exposed to asbestos and find yourself with a persistent cough. It is highly possible you have some fibers embedded in your lungs.
Another symptom you need to watch out for is unexplained weight loss. It can be very dramatic in relation to asbestos related illnesses. There are many cases where it has meant these diseases have already spread to other parts of the persons body. If you have been exposed and are having a dramatic weight loss, it is imperative that you consult a doctor, immediately.
If someone has Mesothelioma, they can have all of the listed problems, with a few more thrown in. It is an exceptionally rare form of cancer that is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. Sufferers may also experience pleural effusion, as well as chest pain. Most doctors will have to do a biopsy to confirm this diagnosis.
It is sad to note that the prognosis for those diagnoses with Mesothelioma is usually not good. As of yet, there are no early screening tests for people that have been exposed. In some cases, it has taken as long as 50 years for them to develop symptoms.
Thankfully, due to increased awareness of the safety issues, asbestos related deaths have reached a plateau. People have learned how to remove it from existing structures in a much safer manner. This helps minimize the exposure and prevents the release of the fibers into the air. People are now specially trained to handle its removal. Buildings that contain it in dangerous amounts are usually made off-limits to the public, until they have been properly cleaned.
Sufferers of another condition, called Asbestiosis, often have a breathlessness that gets worse as time passes. It results from the lung scarring due to the fact that they inhaled asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, people with extremely high exposure have even developed it in a more severe form and much sooner than expected. For the best outlook, they must see a physician for proper medical treatment.
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May 14th, 2010 at 8:24 pm
this post is very usefull thx! I needed to learn about asbestos and mesothelioma for a high school project, and am happy to have found the information here by you. Well done.