Potential Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure
Old buildings and warehouses that are dripping cement from cracks can be a potential threat to your health. Such buildings constructed in the mid-1900s used asbestos in their construction because of its versatile benefits. It has been known as a miracle mineral because its strong fibers are resistant to heat, fire, electricity, and chemicals, and you could mine it very easily.
But over time, research studies explained how this miracle mineral may be a threat to human life. Asbestos was found to be associated with some extremely serious health risks.
What Makes Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral made of very strong and tiny fibers that are resistant to heat and provide good insulation. These properties had made it a core part of construction material, car parts and industrial materials for decades. While those are convenient qualities, there is a hidden danger.
With time, asbestos fibers can get released into the air, and when someone inhales them, they can stick deep in the lungs. The issue is that these fibers are tiny and tough. If held in lung tissues or the lining of chest or abdominal cavities, they can survive for decades, gradually damaging your cells. Because of these risks, people who are exposed to asbestos products at workplaces, or older buildings, can file legal cases to seek compensation for medical costs, lost income, and suffering caused by asbestos related diseases.
Diseases Caused by Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma
It is possibly the most common disease caused by asbestos exposure. This type of cancer is uncommon but very aggressive and usually begins in the linings of the lungs called pleura, or less commonly in walls of the abdomen called peritoneum. You can get mesothelioma if asbestos fibers irritate your lung cells consistently and make them grow out of control.
People suffering from mesothelioma often have chest pain, non-stop coughing, unexplained weight loss, or shortness of breath. Although it is difficult to detect this disease early, if you know you’ve been exposed to asbestos, try to schedule regular checkups to prevent any exacerbations.
Asbestosis
Asbestosis is an incurable chronic lung disease, which may develop several years following exposure to high levels of asbestos fibers. In this state, the fibers cause scarring of the lung tissue, making it difficult to breathe and decreasing lung capacity. Typical symptoms are chronic cough, fatigue, and chest tightness.
Unlike mesothelioma, asbestosis is not cancerous, but it can greatly impact the quality of life and increase the risk of other lung infections. This disease is often present in people who’ve worked for long term at construction sites, shipyards, or factories.
Lung Cancer
If you work with any kind of products containing asbestos, you may be under the risk of getting lung cancer especially if you are a smoker. The asbestos fibers can genetically damage the lung cells that gradually lead to malignancy.
Just like other cancers, lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure can be a silent killer. You may not notice any symptoms apart from a light cough that doesn’t go away and shortness of breath. Smokers usually take it as a result of their smoking habits. However, there may be an underlying cause.
Contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible and schedule a regular checkup to detect any problem early on before it develops into a cancer.
Pleural Disorders
Even if cancer is not the end result, asbestos fibers in the lungs can cause changes that make it difficult for the lungs to work and affect breathing. A person exposed to asbestos may develop pleural plaques, pleural thickening, or Pleural Effusions. Some pleural conditions cause no symptoms, though others can cause chest pain or difficulty breathing, or make a person more likely to get a lung infection.
Other Rare Conditions
Although the complications caused by asbestos exposure are commonly associated with the lungs. However, they can be associated with other disorders like laryngeal cancer, ovarian cancer, or digestive system cancers.
Although these conditions are less frequent, a couple cases have been studied in the past decade suggesting the wide range of health effects that asbestos fibres can cause over time.
Who is at Risk?
Asbestos exposure is not only confined to construction workers or factory workers. Anyone who is handling asbestos containing materials can be affected.
Most common sources of asbestos exposure include:
- Roofing products, cement sheets , and insulation products in some older homes or buildings
- Vehicle brake pads and clutches
- Shipbuilding materials and industrial machinery.
Common Symptoms That You Should Be Wary Of
Here’s some very common early warning signs that you must be wary of:
- Continuous cough or wheezing that doesn’t cure even after taking medication.
- Breathing difficulty or tightness in the chest.
- Feeling fatigued for no reason.
- Pain in chest or abdomen or even swelling..
If you notice any of these symptoms, get medical help as early as possible.
Final Thoughts
Asbestos may have been popular before, but it’s a major threat to the safety of people today. Therefore, everyone must be aware of its risks and when should you see a doctor if you’ve come into contact with asbestos products.
