Asbestosis Symptoms

Asbestos – ‘the magical mineral’ has been applied world-wide as a protective material. However since the early 1900′s it became known it staged a clear danger to health.

From exposure a sufferer may be diagnosed with a number of affiliated asbestos related diseases.

Pleural Plaques, Pleural Thickening, Asbestosis, Lung Cancer and the fatal Mesothelioma.

All present differing symptoms.

Let us take a closer look at Asbestosis

Typically Asbestosis does not tend to show sensations or changes for a heap of years, oftentimes amidst 25 and 40 years from exposure. The main symptom is difficultness breathing namely a shortness of breath, initially on exertion but later even at rest. Others sensations or changes may include tiredness, a cough, chest tightness and chest pain.

A less mutual symptom results in the ends of fingers getting swollen, misshaped and red due to a liquid build-up, a condition known as finger clubbing.

Diagnosing Asbestosis

Generally a GP will ask a patient in regards to their sensations or changes including listening to the lungs using a stethoscope. If lungs have been damages by asbestos they will make a distinguishable cracking noise. Following, the GP will ask in regards to work history and may well suspect asbestos exposure at this point. Additional testing will support to affirm Asbestosis and include:

Spirometer – used to test how effective lungs work

X Ray – to observe abnormality in the lung and lining of the lung

CT Scan – offers more detail than x ray

Treatment of Asbestosis comprises of four main areas:

Quit smoking if a smoker.

Vaccination versus dangerous conditions, such as flu.

Medicines to support breathing.

Equipment, again to help breathing, in particular oxygen masks, ventilators etc.

Life expectancy of an Asbestosis sufferer

Life expectancy depends much on whether or not the patient gives rise to a more severe asbestos affiliated disease such as Mesothelioma. It is possible for persons who requires medical care diagnosed with asbestosis to die prematurely, but if the sickness mutates into a cancer such as Mesothelioma, a patient’s life expectancy is decreased dramatically. Complications that reduce life expectancy for an asbestosis sufferer include:

Asthma

Pneumonia

Heart Disease

Diabetes

In some persons who requires medical care the effect of the sickness causes only mild symptoms, whereas in other persons who requires medical care the disease reduces the flow of oxygen which may be fatal in a lot of cases.

In the UK asbestos affiliated diseases are due to peak around 2015 with over 2000 fatalities a year.