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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
Management of asbestosis should be focused on trying to reduce severity of symptoms and providing a better quality of life:
- Add garlic to the diet - fresh garlic should be eaten every day, or as much as can be tolerated to help the open up the airways, reduce inflammation and prevent scarring, which is very beneficial in lungs which are inflamed and prone to scarring as is the case in asbestosis
- Add ginger to the diet - fresh ginger should be used as much as can be tolerated in cooking to help the open up the airways, reduce inflammation and prevent scarring, which is very beneficial in lungs which are inflamed and prone to scarring as is the case in asbestosis
- Eat more oily fish - the diet should include oily fish about 2-4 times a week to help boost the intake of omega-3 fatty acids and reduce inflammation in the lungs. Best forms of oily fish are: salmon, trout, tuna, blue mackerel, sardines, mullet, golden perch, red fish, sea mullet, yellow fin brim, yellowtail kingfish, tailor, trevally silver, orange roughy, herring, cod. The fish should be cooked fresh as canned fish generally have less omega-3 fatty acids. If fish cannot be eaten, then a fish oil supplement should be taken on a regular basis. People taking any type of blood thinning medications should consult their doctor about taking omega-3 fatty acids supplements, because taking both together can increase the risk of internal bleeding
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- Flu vaccine - if your lungs are particularly sensitive and you catch infections easily, you may consider getting a yearly flu vaccine, which helps to reduce the severity and duration of any influenza infection and reduces the risk of any infection of the lungs from developing into a more severe infection (such as pneumonia and pleurisy)
- Reduce intake of processed foods - this includes all soft drinks, all canned and processed meats (from the deli), processed cheeses, instant soup, ice cream, toppings, puddings, cakes, pizza, take-away food, which can trigger symptoms in some people with asbestosis, mainly due to the additives, high fat content and high sugar content which increase inflammation and this can make symptoms much worse
- Regular visits to the doctor - you need to ensure you visit your doctor on a regular basis, so that your doctor can check your symptoms and disease progression. If your symptoms have worsened and breathing becomes difficult, your doctor can give advise about treatment options
- Stop smoking - if you have asbestosis, you must give up smoking, as cigarette smoking puts extra stress on the lungs (which are already not functioning at a healthy level), exacerbates breathing difficulties and significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer
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< 10: alternative treatment 12: caregiving > Last reviewed: 27 October 2007 || Last updated: 15 March 2009
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NOTE: Mega doses of any type of vitamin, mineral, amino acid or herbal supplement cannot cure illnesses and in fact can be very dangerous and produce toxic side effects and interfere with medicine you are taking. Always ensure you consult your doctor before taking any type of complementary supplements.
Disclaimer: This guide is not intended to be used for diagnostic or prescriptive purposes. For any treatment or diagnosis of illness, please see your doctor.
