Asbestos - The Omnipresent Threat

By Tobias McTavish

Sadly, asbestos was once very commonly used in many building projects. This practice was not stopped, until such as time as scientific professionals learned how severely dangerous it is. Workers and residents that were exposed to it often developed dangerous illness, that in some cases were also fatal. These hazardous effects quickly outweighed any possible benefits of its continued use.

All available forms of asbestos have now been linked to non-cancerous and cancerous lung diseases. There is usually a period of approximately 20 years, between exposure and disease development. Lung diseases are, of course, the most common. The removal of asbestos in buildings now requires the following of very careful safety measures.

Asbestos fibers irritate the lungs and commonly cause the formation of scar tissue. Shortness of breath is a frequent symptom of asbestos related illnesses. Sufferers can find themselves unable to go up even one flight of stairs, without panting.

Coughing is a reflex action that our bodies use to try to rid the lungs of substances that may be causing irritation. Thus, a regular cough can be another frequently associated symptom. It is possible that you have asbestos fibers in your lungs, if you have been around it. Seeing a doctor promptly is imperative if this is the case.

For those who have suffered exposure, extreme weight loss can also be an indicator that an illness is affecting them. If you suspect you were around asbestos and a dramatic drop in weight is unexplained, then see a physician as soon as you possibly can. This could mean the problem has already spread throughout your body.

Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that has been found, in most cases, to be caused by asbestos. People with mesothelioma may experience all of the listed symptoms and more. Others can include chest pain and pleural effusion. This disease is usually confirmed via a biopsy.

It is sad to note that the prognosis for those diagnoses with Mesothelioma is usually not good. As of yet, there are no early screening tests for people that have been exposed. In some cases, it has taken as long as 50 years for them to develop symptoms.

Thankfully, due to increased awareness of the safety issues, asbestos related deaths have reached a plateau. People have learned how to remove it from existing structures in a much safer manner. This helps minimize the exposure and prevents the release of the fibers into the air. People are now specially trained to handle its removal. Buildings that contain it in dangerous amounts are usually made off-limits to the public, until they have been properly cleaned.

Another related illness is called Asbestiosis, this is a lung tissue scarring that occurs from inhalation of the fibers. The breathlessness associated with this condition often gets worse, with time. People who have been exposed to very high amounts of the fibers can develop it much faster and much more severely. Seeing a doctor for diagnosis and treatment is vital to their long-term prognosis.

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