Asbestos exposure continues to be a silent killer, most notably in older structures and industries in which it was a ubiquitous feature in years gone by. Long-term exposure can result in life-changing respiratory disease and aggressive types of cancer years and even decades later.
Even incidental contact can have a disastrous impact, and awareness and caution become imperative. Here are significant medical dangers posed by contact with asbestos.
Lung Cancer Risk
The inhalation of asbestos will result in a significant elevation in lung cancer, most specifically in cigarette smokers. Asbestos-related lung cancer will act similarly to any lung cancer, with symptoms including persistent cough, shortness of breath, and aches in the chest. Early detection can be lifesaving to allow medical intervention before the cancer grows to the next stage. They make regular screening and medical follow-ups mandatory.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a lung disease, a long-term consequence of inhaling asbestos fibers and scarring of lung tissue. It triggers extreme difficulty in breathing, constant coughing, and tightness in the chest. Asbestosis is a disease that progresses, and symptoms become increasingly worse over a period, resulting in respiratory failure.
While no one can cure asbestosis, its symptoms can be eased, and complications can be averted through its therapy. Patients can enjoy a relatively high level of life with pulmonary rehabilitation, oxygen therapy, and symptomatic drugs for relief.
Mesothelioma
This widespread and disastrous medical aftermath of contact with asbestos is mesothelioma, a malignant but rare kind of cancer that involves a lining in the heart, lungs, or abdominal cavity. Mesothelioma can develop many years after initial contact, making early diagnosis hard. Symptoms include tiredness, painful coughing, shortness of breath, a sharp, burning sensation in the chest, and unexplained loss of weight.
If you are a Florida resident, for instance, look for centers with cutting-edge therapies for symptoms to be kept in check and retain the quality of your life. Florida mesothelioma treatment will vary with the cancer stage but can include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Quick diagnosis and the presence of experienced professionals can contribute a lot towards successful care.
Pleural Plaques and Thickening
Asbestos exposure can thicken and cause pleura, a lining of the lungs, to form plaques. Pleural plaques are not malignant but can mark a background of exposure and can cause a loss of lung function over years. Patients with pleural thickening have a sensation of aches in the chest and shortness of breath.
Pleura acquired through contact with asbestos can even predispose an individual towards developing a worse disease, for instance, pleural-mesothelioma or lung cancer. Lung function tests and observation must regularly be performed on a victim of pleura-plaques to monitor any progression.
Gastrointestinal and Other Cancers
Although most closely associated with lung cancer, there is a link between asbestos and gastrointestinal, colon, and stomach cancer. Asbestos inhalation can cause long-term gut inflammation and gene mutations.
Other forms of cancer, including laryngeal and ovarian, have also been linked with asbestos, but these have not yet been researched in detail. Regardless, individuals with a history of long-term asbestos exposure must exercise caution in maintaining a healthy state and undergoing routine tests for any early disease symptoms.
Endnote
Asbestos exposure comes with severe health repercussions, most of them manifesting years and even decades after initial contact. Mesothelioma, lung carcinoma, and asbestosis represent long-term consequences of inhaling asbestos. Diagnosis with anyone warrants expert medical intervention for improvement in prognosis and survival and improvement in one’s life quality.
