For miners who are always around asbestos, there is always a higher risk of lung cancer. Especially a certain type of lung cancer including pleura, called mesothelioma. However, there is another lung abnormality that asbestos workers get as well, which is called asbestosis. Asbestosis is the inflammation of the parenchymal tissue of the lungs. It results in shortness of breath and a higher chance of lung cancer.
After inhaling asbestos ,lung tissue will scar, this scarring causes the inflammation in the lung that is asbestosis. The asbestos fibers will activate the body’s own natural immune system to attack, and this causes inflammation in the lung cavities. It is a slow and chronic condition. It contributes to scar tissue, which will build up and restrict the lungs activity. It reduces the oxygen flow and inhibits carbon dioxide removal. This is where oxygen therapy can help with the breathing difficulties and the shortness of breath.
Signs and Symptoms
There are not many signs to having asbestosis other than shortness of breath. After a prolonged and advanced case of asbestosis there may be cough and respiratory failure. Like mesothelioma, asbestosis can take a decade or so after first exposure to the asbestos. There can be a very long dormant period from exposure to symptoms, however whenever there is breathing and respiratory problems in anyone who has ever had exposure to asbestos should be considered viable hosts for asbestosis or mesothelioma.
Management
Currently there is not much treatment that is widely available for asbestosis. Some things that may help are long term oxygen therapy. Oxygen therapy can help with the breathing difficulties and increase the concentration of oxygen in the body.
Other items include postural drainage of the lungs to take out any liquid secretions and increase lung capacity and breathing. Some form of nebulizers, like those used in COPD and asthma sufferers, can also be prescribed so that the secretions in the lungs can be diluted and patients may be able to breathe better from this as well.
Because of so many asbestos related conditions such as asbestosis and mesothelioma, legal cases have been being fought in our courts since 1929. Liability for asbestos and working near asbestos is a serious business, in both the cost to companies that try to skirt the system and by the healthcare costs to their employees. Asbestos specialty lawyers command top dollar due to the payouts in those types of cases.
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