Asbestos Exposure
the 3 top negative health effects to be aware of
If you’ve ever lived in an older building, you may have heard about asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that was once commonly used in building materials and today is known to be carcinogenic and has been associated with mesothelioma. If you’re concerned about exposure to products containing asbestos, it’s best to understand what the risks are to your health and well being.
You can click here to learn about asbestos, and read on for some of the most common negative health effects associated with asbestos exposure that you should be aware of.
1. Asbestosis
As the name might suggest, asbestosis is a condition where the lungs become scarred due to years of breathing in asbestos fibres. While this condition usually occurs after prolonged exposure, sufferers may not begin to see symptoms for years. These symptoms include coughing, chest tightness and having a hard time breathing, due to the difficulty oxygen and carbon dioxide have to pass through. If left untreated, complications can include mesothelioma, lung cancer and pulmonary heart disease.
2. Mesothelioma
You may not have heard of mesothelioma, but cancer can show up as late as 30 to 40 years after asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is cancer that develops in the membrane covering internal organs, such as the lungs, or the abdominal cavity. Symptoms include pain in the chest, a persistent cough, bloating, shortness of breath and sometimes fatigue or night sweats. The signs may vary depending on where exactly cancer occurs.
3. Lung Cancer
Perhaps the best known of asbestos complications, lung cancer has sometimes been linked to asbestos exposure. Lung cancer generally involves the growth of malignant tumours that block air passage through the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. If you smoke tobacco and have been exposed to asbestos in the past, your chances of developing lung cancer, later on, may be greater than through exposure alone.
Symptoms of lung cancer include persistent fatigue or breathlessness, pain when breathing, recurring chest infections, a cough that won’t go away or a cough that produces blood. If you have any of these symptoms, consult a doctor right away for an examination. Once a material commonly used in various types of construction, asbestos is now known to be linked to a number of negative health effects.
If you believe you may have been exposed to asbestos in the past and have experienced any of the above health conditions, you may want to talk to your doctor and contact an attorney. With this information in mind, you can help keep yourself and your family safe.
Klaudia xx
