What Effects Can Asbestos Have on the Body?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was found to have
great heat and fire resistant qualities to it. Unfortunately, studies
have shown that long-term exposure to asbestos can lead to serious, if
not deadly, health problems.
Generally, exposure to asbestos will
affect the lungs and abdominal areas. Here is a breakdown of the more
common illness associated with asbestos exposure.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis
is not a cancer. Rather, it is a long-term illness that causes the
lungs to develop scar tissue. This scar tissue can reduce your breathing
capacity, making it difficult for oxygen and carbon monoxide to enter
and exit the lungs properly. Asbestosis is a slow progressing disease
and can take 10 to 20 years to develop after the initial exposure to
asbestos. This disease can range from showing little or no symptoms to
being potentially fatal. Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Persistent cough producing mucus
- Tightness in the chest
- Chest pain
- Loss of appetite
- Dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling
Pleural Plaques
The
pleura is the thin lining surrounding the lungs. Pleural plaques are
changes that occur in that thin lining due to low or intermittent
exposure to asbestos. While pleural plaques are not concerned
pre-cancerous, or a symptom of a more dangerous ailment to come, they
may slightly affect some lung functions.
Lung Cancer
Lung
cancer is the most common asbestos-related cancer and accounts for 1 of
every 5 deaths among asbestos workers. It may take as much as 40 or 50
years for lung cancer to develop after the initial long-term exposure to
asbestos. Asbestos workers who also smoke increase their risk of lung
cancer by 50 to 90 times. While it can be very difficult to detect
initially, symptoms of lung cancer include:
- Cough producing blood or heavy amounts of phlegm
- Shortness of breath
- Hoarseness when speaking
- Significant weight loss
- Swelling in face or arms
- Severe headaches or migraines
- Vision problems
- Chest, back, neck, stomach or bone pain
Mesothelioma
The
mesothelioma is a thin membrane that protects most internal organs
(heart, lungs) and lines the body cavity (chest, abdomen). Malignant
(cancerous) mesothelioma
is commonly associated with long-term exposure to asbestos. As with
other health issues relating to asbestos exposure, mesothelioma symptoms
may not appear for years or decades. While all asbestos exposure
symptoms are similar, a diagnosis of mesothelioma is generally found to
be fatal, with death occurring within months.
