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Asbestos and Asbestosis
Asbestosis Disease
Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling large quantities
of asbestos. Asbestos fibers are microscopic and virtually
indestructible. Asbestosis occurs when the tiny, needle-shaped
asbestos fibres accumulate in the lungs and cause scarring
(called fibrosis). With widespread scarring, the lungs become
less elastic and no longer expand and contract normally. When
this happens, breathing can become difficult.
The signs and symptoms of asbestosis can show up many years
after the asbestos exposure has ended. Manifestations rarely
occur less than 10 years following first exposure and are
more common after 20 years or more.
Asbestosis Symptoms
Asbestosis symptoms include:
- Shortness
of breath.
- Asbestosis
has been called a monosymptomatic disease because the earliest,
most consistently reported, and most distressing symptom
is shortness of breath.
- Occurs
with heavy effort and then progressively diminishing levels
of effort as the disease becomes worse.
- Persistent
and productive cough.
- Almost
as common as the shortness of breath.
- Often
occurs with distressing spasms.
Asbestosis Treatment
Unfortunately, there currently is no cure for asbestosis.
Asbestosis treatment involves preventing further complications of
the disease and treating its symptoms. A patient with asbestosis
must first prevent any further contact with asbestos and if
they are a smoker they should be advised to quit. Drug therapies
have not yet proven helpful in stopping or reversing asbestosis.
Occasionally, lung transplantations have been successful in
treating asbestosis disease.
Asbestos and Asbestosis
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