What are the symptoms of asbestos in your lungs?

What are the symptoms of asbestos in your lungs?

What are the symptoms of asbestosis?

• Breathlessness that gets worse over time.
• Crackling sounds when breathing.
• Dry cough.
• Fast, shallow breathing.
• Loss of appetite.
• Swelling or ‘clubbing’ at the end of the fingers.
• Weight loss.

  What type of lung disease is asbestosis?

  Asbestosis is a chronic lung condition that is caused by prolonged exposure to high concentrations of asbestos fibers in the air. Though asbestosis is believed to be mostly an occupational disease, there are reports of secondhand exposure to asbestos containing dust.

  Can you recover from asbestosis?

  There’s no cure for asbestosis once it has developed, as it’s not possible to reverse the damage to the lungs. But some treatments can help, such as: pulmonary rehabilitation – a programme of exercises and education to help manage your symptoms.

  What happens if you breathe in asbestos once?

  If you breathe asbestos fibers, you may increase the risk of several serious diseases, including asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos exposure may increase your risk for cancers of the digestive system, including colon cancer.

  What is the treatment for asbestos exposure?

  There is no treatment that can reverse the damage done by asbestos, but certain steps can help slow down progression of the disease and relieve symptoms. Avoiding further exposure to asbestos and other irritants such as cigarette smoke will help slow down the disease from progressing.

  What happens to the lungs when exposed to asbestos?

  Such exposure also can scar tissue in the lungs, in a condition called asbestosis. 3 The scar tissue does not behave like normal, healthy lung tissue and makes breathing difficult. Asbestosis is a very serious and life-threatening disease.

  Is there a cure for asbestos in the lungs?

  There is currently no cure for asbestos related diseases such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer, as the damage to the lungs has already been done by the time they are diagnosed. However, there are some treatments available that can help to ease the symptoms. Does everyone exposed to asbestos get cancer?

  What kind of cancer can you get from asbestos?

  Asbestos can cause cancer. Inhaling asbestos fibers increases the risk of developing lung cancer and mesothelioma , a deadly cancer of the thin lining surrounding the lungs and other organs. 1, 2 The risk depends on how much you inhale, how long ago you were exposed and whether you smoke.

  How are asbestos fibers harmful to the body?

  The problem with asbestos fibers is that they can’t be destroyed by the body. The word itself comes from the Greek word meaning ‘inextinguishable’. The fibers are a bane for the body and lead to serious health complications. Long-term exposure to exposure fibers can cause serious damage to the lungs.