1. Do Not Disturb
Asbestos fibers cause the most damage when they are inhaled, because they don't break down easily and can stay in the lungs for a long time. If you have asbestos in your home or workplace, don't disturb it or try to move it yourself. Call an asbestos contractor and have him remove it safely. If you try to move it yourself, you are increasing your risk of asbestos poisoning.
2. Watch for Symptoms Over Time
Asbestos often takes years before causing any serious health problems. Symptoms mostly develop in the lungs, where the asbestos gathers. It doesn't break down over time, so the longer it's there, the more it builds up and the greater damage it causes. Victims will start to have trouble breathing, their chest will feel tight and restricted, their neck and face may swell, and they may experience a drastic loss in weight. They will slowly get worse and in later stages, they can develop serious breathing conditions like asbestosis and lung cancer. If you think you have asbestos poisoning, call a doctor and ask her to perform a lung biopsy, which can confirm the presence of asbestos in your lungs.
3. Treat the Symptoms
There is no antidote or cure for asbestos poisoning, and the damage it causes is usually permanent. Prevention is the best way to treat it, but if you're suffering from asbestos poisoning, it's best to have a doctor treat the symptoms. The standard method is chest percussion and postural drainage. The doctor places you in various positions to allow different lobes of your lung to drain and then pounds on your chest in order to loosen the asbestos that may be lodged there. It is time-consuming and uncomfortable, but it can succeed in getting rid of the asbestos and letting you breathe more easily. Your doctor may have other therapeutic options for treating asbestos poisoning as well.
4. Check Your Environment for Asbestos
The best thing to do is have your home and workplace tested for asbestos before any health problems appear. Older buildings in particular should be checked--anything built before 1960 may contain this material--and you should check for asbestos if you plan to do any significant redecorating. Asbestos was originally used as insulation and can most likely be found in walls and attics and in heating ducts and pipes. You should contact an asbestos contractor to look for asbestos in your home, though plumbers, electricians and health inspectors often know what to look for as well.
