Asbestos is a term used to describe six fibrous commercial minerals, namely chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite asbestos, tremolite asbestos, and actinolite asbestos . Asbestos has the desired quality of being fire proof, and most of the products made from asbestos are designed to provide this function. The mining, handling and production of asbestos materials requires very strict regulations due to the serious negative health effects caused by accidental inhalation of and skin exposure to asbestos. The negative health effects caused by asbestos do not manifest immediately and may not show up for up to 10 to 40 years with some patients. Low levels of environmental asbestos do not pose a health risk, but breathing in substantial amounts of airborne asbestos fibers pose the largest risk to a person's health.
Symptoms of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare but serious form of cancer that affects the protective lining of the organs called the mesothelium. Most patients that develop mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos. According to the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center, symptoms may not manifest for 20 to 50 years after exposure. Mesothelioma most commonly affects the lining of the lungs, but may also affect the heart, abdominal lining and testicles. The most common symptoms include shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, coughing, pain in the chest and abdomen, fluid in the lungs or abdominal cavity, weight loss, loss of appetite, insomnia, husky voice and difficulty swallowing. The symptoms may differ significantly depending on the location of the cancer, and patients should consult an oncologist if any symptoms manifest.
Symptoms of Asbestosis
Patients exposed to asbestos may also develop a condition known as asbestosis. Asbestosis is the inflammation and scarring of the functional tissues in the lungs caused by inhaled asbestos fibers becoming imbedded in the lung tissue. According to Dr. Daniel Powers at Asbestos News, the symptoms of asbestosis may take up to 20 to 35 years to occur. Some of the most common symptoms include persistent dry coughing, shortness of breath due to reduced lung capacity, chest pain and clubbing of the fingers. Chest pain may occur due to lung inflammation or stress on the surrounding muscles. Clubbing of the fingers occurs due to a reduced amount of oxygen in the blood. Asbestosis may eventually lead to high blood pressure and lung cancer.
Symptoms of Lung Cancer
Patients exposed to asbestos may also develop lung cancer, which may affect all or several parts the lung rather than just the lining, as found in mesothelioma. According to the Mesothelioma Center, there are between 3,400 and 8,500 new cases of asbestos-related lung cancer each year. Patients who have been exposed to asbestos and who also smoke are at the greatest risk of developing lung cancer. According to MayoClinic.com, common symptoms of lung cancer include a new cough that doesn't go away, coughing up blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, wheezing, hoarse throat, weight loss, bone pain and headache. Patients experiencing any of these symptoms for longer than a week should consult their physician.
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