5 Signs You Are Exposed To Asbestos
When you inhale asbestos, it can have drastic effects on your body. Although it sounds like you may fall sick immediately and need help, that is not the case. The fibers found in the product slowly accumulate in your lungs, causing gradual scars. If you wish to catch asbestos exposure, you need to follow the trail of symptoms you experience.
As soon as you feel unusual such as seeing blood in your cough or feeling breathless, it is time to visit a practitioner. Unless you get proper treatment, your illness can worsen until it becomes too late for you. To save your health from deteriorating further, here is what you need to know about asbestos exposure:
1. What Are The Symptoms Of Asbestos Exposure?
Asbestos exposure doesn't start expressing itself immediately. Instead, approximately ten to forty years later, you may start noticing signs and symptoms. Individual cases vary. Some patients describe intense symptoms indicating the severity of the illness, while some have mild symptoms.
One of the diseases that occur from asbestos exposure is mesothelioma. According to a reputable article on asbestos, about ninety percent of mesothelioma cases stem from asbestos exposure.
While it is a rare form of cancer, it can become fatal. So when you start noticing unusual symptoms in your otherwise healthy life, seek a doctor immediately. If your diagnosis comes back positive, you may need to begin mesothelioma treatment right away. To help you understand, here are some symptoms you need to pay attention to:
Shortness of Breath. You may struggle to breathe even if you do light work or walk from one point to the next. It can become challenging to do every task when you're not breathing correctly.
Blood in the Sputum. When you cough, you may see spots of blood in your sputum, which should incline you to see a doctor.
Pain in the Chest and Abdomen. You may experience a sharp and stabbing pain in your orifices that will not ease off on its own.
Significant Weight Loss. The illness you have can make it difficult for you to swallow. When you can't eat or drink properly, your body weight drops heavily. You may shed more weight than what is healthy.
Clubbing Of Fingers and Toes. You may notice that your fingers and toes have swelling. Your appendages look more ghastly than usual, and the type of swelling you have is uncommon. The nail bed also begins curving downwards. There are jolts of pain flowing through them, making it hard for you to use them.
2. What Other Factors Increase the Risk of Asbestos-Related Diseases?
Once or twice, getting exposed to asbestos is not enough to get sick. Suppose you had prolonged exposure to it; that is enough for the fibers to make you sick. These factors determine the risk of your disease:
● Duration. The timeline of your exposure matters. If you get exposed for at least ten or so years, you will start showing signs and symptoms.
● Intensity. If your work was primarily around asbestos-heavy products, the chances of you getting sick are high.
● Employment Sector., you are at high risk if you work with pure asbestos products such as car components. The risk is mild if your job revolves around asbestos bonded products such as walls or tiles. If these tiles get damaged and release fibers into the air, it will get lethal for you.
● Personal Factors. Living in polluted areas and using worn-out cars increases your risk. It also doesn't help if you smoke often and have pre-existing lung diseases such as bronchitis. The asbestos fibers will sink into your lungs and cause scarring right away, making you sick.
● Genetic Mutations. If you have a salient gene mutation, all it takes is a carcinogen to enter your system and activate it. These mutations make your lungs more susceptible to diseases, and the chances of you getting mesothelioma are high.
3. How Do Doctors Diagnose Asbestos Related Diseases?
A cancer diagnosis is a delicate process unless the doctor is sure they can't proceed with treatment. If you mention that you worked with asbestos products, a practitioner will inspect your lungs first.
The diagnostic procedure starts with a physical exam where the professional uses a stethoscope to pick up any lung murmurs. Following a light inspection of your lungs, you may need to go for a chest x-ray. This procedure aims to check for visible spots on your lungs to guide the practitioner if you have cancer.
The last test you may need to go through is our lab tests to measure the level of asbestos in your body. Extensive tests include getting a CT scan and a biopsy. The latter is a surgical procedure where a small portion of your tissue gets removed for inspection.
4. What Are Your Treatment Options?
The treatment of asbestos-related treatment depends on the severity of the illness. There are various diseases that you can have. That is why there is no generic treatment applied to all the conditions. For example, if your lungs get filled with fluids, you need to get them drained. So, to help you, here's an overview of the possible treatment options:
● Oxygen Therapy. If you have shortness of breath, you need help raising the oxygen levels in your blood. Shortness of breath stems from low oxygen levels. So this therapy helps in improving your breathing.
● Chemotherapy, Radiation, or Surgery. These help eradicate cancer cells, increase life expectancy, and give you a better lifestyle. If you get confirmed with a cancer diagnosis such as mesothelioma, you may need to go through these treatment routes. But, before you can start, the doctor will conduct several tests on you to conclude the extent of your cancer.
Wrap Up
If you work with asbestos products, there is a chance you may get asbestos-related illnesses. These illnesses take a toll on your system and need immediate addressing. The signs and symptoms you express help you pigeonholing if you are sick. For your confirmation, compile a list of other risk factors to help you determine your current health status.
A medical practitioner can help you treat your asbestos-related illness. You should get a confirmed diagnosis and look into treatment options. While you may not completely reverse the damage asbestos-caused, you can alleviate your disease to a more manageable condition.