Have you ever heard about asbestosis? In this post, we discover what is asbestosis, causes, diagnosis, symptoms and everything about this chronic disease.
If you want to know everything about it, read on.
Contents
- 1 WHAT IS ASBESTOSIS?
- 2 What is asbestos?
- 3 WHAT IS ASBESTOSIS CAUSE?
- 4 WHAT IS ASBESTOSIS DIAGNOSIS?
- 5 WHAT IS ASBESTOSIS PROGNOSIS?
- 6 ASBESTOSIS SYMPTOMS
- 7 ASBESTOSIS TREATMENT
- 8 ASBESTOSIS vs MESOTHELIOMA vs LUNG CANCER
- 9 ASBESTOSIS LAWSUITS AND SETTLEMENTS FROM ASBESTOS EXPOSURE
- 10 Asbestosis trust funds.
- 11 ASBESTOSIS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (F.A.Q.)
WHAT IS ASBESTOSIS?
Asbestosis cause is asbestos exposure and it is very common among industrial and construction workers.
Asbestosis is a disease that scars the lungs and reduces breathing capacity due to the inhalation of asbestos fibres.
This chronic disease is suffered mainly by construction workers, miners, ship builders, plumbers, or industrial manufacturers who have been exposed to asbestos for years.
It takes years to develop an asbestos-related disease such as asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer.
The latency period for asbestosis is about 20 to 30 years and unfortunately.
What is asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of minerals that produce fibers with a great resistance to high temperatures, an incredible insulation material, not inflammable used for many products manufacture in industries.
Asbestos is as a high carcinogenic mineral related to several diseases.
Statistics and facts about asbestosis.
In 1899, the first official asbestosis case was reported. The patient had worked separating and cleaning asbestos fibers for many years in a factory . He was the only survivor of a group of ten workers.
The relation between asbestosis and asbestos exposure was well known by 1918, but the Insurance Company refused paying a compensation for the ill workers.
World Health Organization estimates that about 125 million people are exposed to asbestos all over the world.
Asbestos is banned in many countries but others still use this carcinogenic mineral to manufacture products. Asbestosis, mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer is frequent in these countries, due to the great exposure of workers for years.
A few years ago, a studio revealed that 27 percent of mill workers developed asbestosis after being heavily exposed to asbestos for five to nine years.
WHAT IS ASBESTOSIS CAUSE?
Asbestosis is a lung disease that occurs as a result of inhaling asbestos fibers. These fibers become embedded in the lung tissue causing inflammation.
Continued exposure to asbestos causes damage to the lungs and scarring of lung tissue. These scars prevent the lungs from functioning properly and produce symptoms such as lack of breathing capacity.
Asbestosis causes are related to asbestos fibers exposure for long periods at work. Asbestosis is an occupational disease because it is common ammong workers while developping their tasks.
Who can develop asbestosis?
The cause of asbestosis disease is asbestos exposure. As we said, asbestosis is an occupational disease that may affect:
- shipbuilding workers
- building manufacturers
- firefighters
- railroad workers
- miners
- mechanic who worked with asbestos brakes
- demmolition workers
- roof workers
- plumbers
- family members of these professionals.
Asbestosis risk factors.
The probabilities of developping asbestosis are higher in people who have been exposed to asbestos for many years and many hours without appropiate precautions.
It also depends of the concentration of asbestos presence in the products, the size and shape of asbestos, genetic predisposition, general health status and smoking.
The sum of these risk factors increases the likelihood of suffering from this chronic and deadly disease.
Does asbestosis cause cancer?
Asbestosis can cause lung cancer and mesothelioma in the long term, there is a direct relation between these diseases. A person who suffers asbestosis is more suitable of developping lung cancer or mesothelioma.
Asbestosis patients should be checked out in mesothelioma or lung cancer screening to get a diagnose as soon as possible.
WHAT IS ASBESTOSIS DIAGNOSIS?
Asbestosis is similar to pulmonary fibrosis and sometimes they are confused. It is necessary to make medical tests to differenciate this diseases.
Is there a test for asbestosis?
Asbestosis is not diagnosed with an specific test. An experienced lung doctor has to study the particular case to find evidence of asbestosis.
The doctor can listen to your lungs by using a stethoscope to find any crackling sound while breathing, which is usual in abestosis patients.
The diagnosis of asbestosis is made by X-ray, CT scan and lung functional tests.
X-ray in asbestosis diagnosis.
X-ray may result very useful in asbestosis diagnosis. There is a common sign in asbestosis xray known as honeycomb, which is defined by the presence of small cystic spaces with irregularly thickened walls composed of fibrous tissue.
It is also common finding evidences of pleural plaques in X-ray that may suggest an asbestosis diagnosis.
CT scans in asbestosis diagnosis
CT scan can demonstrate the presence of pulmonar fibrosis and pleural effusion.
Functional test for asbestosis.
Another test that may provide information about the lungs function is a spirometer. This device can give the doctors data about how well air flows in and out and how much air the lungs can hold for a certain period of time.
Asbestosis produce a reduction of the air a patient can force from their lungs after a full inhalation. This may be a sign of asbestosis disease.
WHAT IS ASBESTOSIS PROGNOSIS?
The prognosis of asbestosis depends on how much asbestos they inhaled during the exposure.
Those patients with a lower exposure to asbestos may suffer a mild case that will progress slowly, but those who were highly exposed will develop severe asbestosis and will progress quickly.
ASBESTOSIS SYMPTOMS
Asbestosis is a type of pulmonary fibrosis caused by asbestos dust that reduces the expansion and fill of air in the lungs.
Asbestosis symptoms take decades to appear. They are produced by the scars around alveoli, which are the sacs at the final portion of bronchs. This scars avoid normal oxigen interchange in the lungs.
The symptoms of asbestosis may include:
- Shortness of breath
- Loss of weight
- Loss of appetite
- Chest tightness
- Crackling sound in lungs when breathing
- Fatigue caused by the lack of oxygen
- Persistent dry cough
- Coronary diseases
- Pulmonary hypertension due to arteries constriction
- Clubbed fingers and toes
The lack of oxygen in fingers and toes produce a characteristic symptom that make them rounder and wider than normal.
On the other hand, arteries constriction can lead to pulmonary hypertension and finally, coronary diseases.
If you have been exposed to asbestos at work and you are not feeling good, you should be checked out by a lung specialist doctor.
How to reduce asbestosis symptoms?
There are some basic steps that can decrease the symptoms of asbestosis:
- Soft physical exercise.
- Eat healthy food
- Reduce or avoid smoking.
- Stay well hydrated.
- Sleep and rest.
- Wash your hands regularly to avoid flu and other respiratory infections.
ASBESTOSIS TREATMENT
The treatment for asbestosis is focused on palliative cares, as they try to alleviate the symptoms.
There is no cure for asbestosis, as is not a reversible disease.
Asbestosis symptoms are treated with oxygen supplementation to increase lung capacity.
It is also used medication to decrease chest pain and lung secretions. Unfortunately, corticosteroids to lower inflammation and immunosupressants are not useful for asbestosis treatment.
Asbestosis patients can also learn pulmonary exercises to learn how to breathe properly.
It is possible to perform lung transplants in specific cases of patients with asbestosis associated with pulmonary emphysema.
ASBESTOSIS vs MESOTHELIOMA vs LUNG CANCER
The difference between asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer is that asbestosis is not a cancerous disease.
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer of the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart and testicles.
Lung cancer is a malignant tumor of the lung tissue.
They are both produced by asbestos exposure. After a few years, asbestosis can lead into mesothelioma or lung cancer.
ASBESTOSIS LAWSUITS AND SETTLEMENTS FROM ASBESTOS EXPOSURE
As we said, asbestos exposure may produce asbestosis. Asbestosis is an occupational disease that many workers suffer due to the inhalation of asbestos fibers and dust at product manufacturers, military, shipbuilding, isolation companies and other professionals.
It is proven that asbesosis is a chronic and irreversible disease that takes many lives every year.
The companies that used or manufactured asbestos-containing products were aware of health risks for their workers and tried to hide the damages that this mineral was causing to this people.
These companies are directly responsible for the injuries suffered by asbestos-exposed workers as they acted negligently.
What is asbestosis lawsuit?
Asbestosis lawsuit was created to protect and compensate injured workers for the damages that asbestos companies caused them.
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos at work and have suffered an asbestos-related disease can claim to the liable companies.
There are compensations available for militars exposed, factories workers, shipbuilders, plumbers and many professionals exposed. This compensation can help paying medical bills, supplement lost income and provide for your family.
Asbestosis Lawyers
There are many asbestos attorneys that can help you filling an asbestos lawsuit in order to get compensated for your injuries.
It is important to hire an specialised asbestos lawyer to get the maximum compensation in every particular case, because they know the law about this complex issue.
Who is eligible for asbestosis compensation?
People who were diagnosed with asbestosis or familiy members of those who died due to asbestos-related diseases can sue for asbestos compensations.
If you are not sure of your legal options for getting compensation for your suffering, you should contact an asbestos lawyer to increase the probabilities of finantial compensation for asbestosis.
Filing an Asbestosis Lawsuit
Filing an asbestosis lawsuit may result difficult, but you can hire an asbestos attorney to represent you and get what you deserve.
There are many asbestos and mesothelioma specialised law firms that will help you in the process. They will get the maximum benefit for you and your family.
If you want to know more about about mesothelioma and lung cancer lawsuit, check the link. There, you will find relevant information about mesothelioma claims, settelements and trials.
You can find free legal consultation and learn more about your legal options by speaking to an experienced asbestos attorney.
Asbestosis trust funds.
There are many asbestosis trust funds established by asbestos companies to pay exposed workers who suffer asbestos-related diseases instead of suing a company.
Contact an asbestos law firm to get proper information. It is also available help for exposed veterans at the Veteran’s Administration.
Asbestos trust funds have saved $30 billion, available to compensate victims.
However, you must know that trust funds compensation are usually lower than a finantial settlement or payout amount.
ASBESTOSIS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (F.A.Q.)
Asbestosis is a chronic respiratory disease and patients can live for decades, although in some cases it’s a lethal disease. Life expectancy in asbestosis patients is about 16 months.
Unfortunately, asbestosis cannot be cured, and there is not an specific treatment for this disease.
Tes, asbestosis can lead to lung cancer after a certain period of time
