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- What is asbestosis?
- Symptoms of asbestosis
- Causes of asbestosis
- Prevention of asbestosis
- Risk factors for asbestosis
- Complications of asbestosis
- When to see a doctor about asbestosis
- Diagnosis of asbestosis
- Conventional treatment of asbestosis
- Alternative/complementary treatment of asbestosis
- Living with asbestosis
- Caring for someone with asbestosis
Asbestosis is a chronic, inflammatory medical condition affecting the lungs. It occurs after a person has been exposed to asbestosis fibres over a long period and has inhaled the fibres into their lungs, where they cause health problems.
Asbestosis a mineral, was commonly used in insulation in buildings (due to its excellent heat insulation properties) and even in firefighter's uniforms (due to its fire-retardant properties) in the past. Over time, it was noticed that the people working the factories who produced the materials with asbestos developed diseases of the lungs and a high percentage of workers (around 20-30%) died. Today, it is not often used in building materials or in many other areas.
Building (homes, industrial and commercial) built before 1977 usually contain some form of asbestosis, in the building and hot water insulation, for soundproofing walls, as decorative material sprayed on walls and ceilings, in older stove tops, in ironing board pads, some types of textured paints, some roofing and siding material and in vinyl floor tiles.
In general, even if asbestos was used in the home (or a building), as long as they are in good condition and they are not crumbling, or in some other way flaking off. It is only when asbestos is damaged that the fibres can be released into the air and inhaled.
Asbestosis causes a type of pulmonary fibrosis as it makes the lung tissue hardened and be unable to inspire and expire properly.
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Some facts about asbestosis
- Asbestosis is a progressive and irreversible lung condition that leads to subsequent respiratory disability
- Symptoms of asbestosis do not normally develop in individual for at least 5 years after exposure to asbestosis
- Reducing your exposure to asbestos is the best prevention strategy for avoiding this illness
- Asbestosis can develop into mesothelioma, which is generally a very rare form of lung cancer, but is increasing in frequency as people exposed to asbestos get older and develop it in more numbers
- Many homes (apartments and houses) built prior to 1970 contain asbestos in the insulation of the build, hot water and steam pipes, stove tops and vinyl floor tiles as well as a whole host of other parts of the building - these are deemed to be fine as long as they are not disturbed and the fibres remain unreleased and do not pose a health risk
- Repairs to any type of asbestos products need to be done by a professional, who know how to minimise risk of releasing the asbestos fibres into the air
- Having asbestosis gives a person a very high risk for developing many types of lung cancer (including mesothelioma, a very rare type of cancer that starts with tumours in the lungs)
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2: symptoms of asbestosis >
