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Asbestosis is a disease of the lung that’s directly associated with the exposure to the toxic product asbestos. If you have asbestosis it’s a scarring of the lungs tissue or a fibrosis if you happen to hear that specific term.

The product asbestos is a very functional product due to its natural heat retardant nature. Asbestos is made from a fibrous material that comes from mines all through the world. Even though asbestos is a very useful material it actually poses deadly risks for any person that is exposed to it. Anyone that has asbestosis is 5 xs more likely to get tumors/cancer of the lung then anyone that hasn’t had asbestos exposure.

Generally, the human nose and bronchi work as a filter in order to stop any particles that we encounter from being able to enter the lungs. All asbestos fibers though are not only long and thin, they are actually microscopic. Due to the asbestos fiber size they are able to bypass the body’s natural filters and enter into the lungs. This is where all of the problems will start.

One of the harming facts of asbestosis is that while the fibers are entering your body immediately the actual symptoms can take over a decade sometimes more for them to appear. Often times as well some of the symptoms are misread as other possibilities leading to a delay of the correct diagnosis of asbestosis.

Some of the symptoms of asbestosis include:

• Shortness of breath
• Painful spasms
• Persistent and productive cough
• Chest pain and/or tightness
• Complete loss of appetite

Prognosis

The prognosis for someone with asbestosis is bleak as there is no present cure. The progression is only going to get stronger as someone ages and will only on the very most rare of instances either improve or go away. A respiratory treatment will be likely used for the buildup removal of the lungs as well as humidifiers for easing a person’s cough or discomforts; however, all of this is purely treating the symptoms not the disease.

A Note for Smokers

Any smoker that acquires asbestosis should quit smoking immediately. Smoking by itself is a form of smoke inhalation. When you have the combination of both of the asbestosis and the smoke inhalation it will prove to be even more toxic causing the asbestosis to reach the advanced stages swiftly.

A person that is both a smoker and has asbestosis is going to increase their cancer risk by 55 xs more in likelihood then the nonsmoking counterpart without asbestosis.