Asbestos refers to naturally occurring minerals that were frequently used in building materials due to their fire-resistant properties. When asbestos is cut it can release a fine dust made up of tiny asbestos fibers. Extensive exposure to asbestos fibers can cause significant lung damage in people who inhale asbestos dust. If you have been exposed to asbestos, it may take up to 30 or 40 years before you begin to experience side effects from inhalation of asbestos fibers, explain health professionals at The Cancer Council Victoria in Australia. Contact a doctor immediately if you develop asbestos side effects, as they may be indicative of a more serious lung disease, such as pleural plaque, asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma.
Breathing Difficulties
Inhalation of asbestos can cause the tiny fibers within asbestos dust to become lodged within the delicate tissue of the lungs. These fibers can damage the lungs, causing scar tissue or thick, fibrous plaques to develop within the lungs. If this occurs, you can develop significant breathing difficulties or wheezing as side effects of asbestos, explain health professionals at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If this occurs, you may find it difficult to perform normal tasks, such as walking up a flight of stairs, without breathing heavily or gasping for air. Left untreated, such side effects progressively increase in severity and can cause some people to stop breathing.
Cough
Prolonged exposure to asbestos dust can cause a cough to develop in some people. You may notice the development of a new cough or a preexisting cough may become more persistent. A cough associated with asbestos inhalation is typically described as dry or hacking. Lung damage caused by asbestos fibers can cause certain people to cough up phlegm that contains blood.
Hoarseness
Asbestos inhalation can irritate and inflame the lining of the throat. This may cause you to develop a hoarse or raspy voice that persists or becomes worse over time. Certain people also develop a sore throat that makes swallowing difficult.
Chest or Abdominal Pain
Asbestos fibers can become embedded deep within the tissue of your lungs or stomach. Over time, these tissues can accrue scar tissues, which can produce painful sensations within the chest or abdomen that are dull or achy. These painful symptoms may be most apparent when you attempt to inhale and can occur in conjunction with cough or breathing difficulties.
Weight Loss
Extended exposure to asbestos dust can cause significant, unintended weight loss to occur in affected individuals. Weight loss may occur due to the progressive destruction of lung and stomach tissue within the body caused by asbestos fibers, which may cause a decrease in appetite.
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