Asbestosis is a lung disease which is caused by the prolonged exposure to asbestos. This is a fiber like material that was once used within insulation and so is found in many different properties, residential and office blocks alike. The different fibers that people can inhale when exposed to asbestos are the cause of scar tissue (which is known as pulmonary fibrosis) which forms within the lungs.
Are You Hoping to Get Rid of Your Asbestos?
Due to the negative implications of this insulation, people all over the world have taken to having it removed from their buildings. If you are hoping to do the same, then you are going to need to contact experts that you can trust to carry out the work to the highest possible standard. There are organizations on hand such as Lidoran who are commercial roofing contractors in Brisbane, Australia that started their business primarily focusing on asbestos removal and still carry out those services today.
The Symptoms of Asbestosis
When you have scar tissue form around the lungs and microscopic air sacs (which are more commonly known as alveoli) it will gradually become harder. The alveoli are responsible for expanding which lets air into the lungs, as such when they get harder it becomes tougher to fill them with fresh air. This means that the most common symptoms of asbestosis are a dry cough along with difficulty breathing, accompanied by crackling sounds.
The most common symptoms consist of:
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent dry cough
- Chest tightness and pain
- Fatigue
- Loss of weight and no appetite
- A crackling sound when you breath
- Clubbing of fingers and toes
What Causes Asbestosis?
As previously stated, the only causes of asbestosis is the exposure to asbestos. There are other types of similar illness caused by different forms of dust, but they won’t lead to asbestosis. The inhalation of asbestos fibers leads to the accumulation of said fibers in the lung tissue, which makes it much harder for them to take in air.
For an asbestos-related illness to properly develop, regular exposure to asbestos will be required over a couple of years. It could well be decades before any kind of symptoms present themselves.
How Can You Prevent Asbestosis?
One of the most efficient ways that you can prevent asbestosis is by limiting and avoiding your exposure to it as much as possible. You can’t catch it from other people who have it because it isn’t contagious, only exposure to the material can cause it. If you work in a blue-collar industry, then you should learn about all of the different safety measures that are available for you to take in order to prevent your exposure to asbestos.
How Can You Treat Asbestosis?
Unfortunately, asbestosis is an irreversible condition. Apart from having a lung transplant, the actual disease will always be present, but that doesn’t mean you are not able to address the symptoms of asbestosis in order to improve the patient’s overall quality of life.
The condition does tend to get worse over time meaning patients will need more care as they get older. The best way to get this is by working with a doctor who specializes in the treatment of asbestosis.
Photo by Milivoj Kuhar on Unsplash
