Asbestosis is a type of lung condition caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a flame retardant material developed for a variety of purposes and used primarily in the construction industry, as well as any other business which involves potential exposure to fire hazards. Asbestos is a fibrous material, and physical degradation over time causes it to fragment into microscopic fibers. The inhalation of these asbestos fibers causes the particles to lodge in the lungs, causing the sickness known as Asbestosis.
The main problems that stem from asbestosis are the development of scar tissue in the lungs and, worse still, the development of a form of lung cancer known as mesothelomia. In the first case, the presence of asbestos fibers cause scratches in the lung sacs which eventually lead to internal bleeding and scarring, making breathing difficult and the lungs susceptible to other disorders. In the second case, the fibers cause tumors in the lungs and these in turn become cancerous growths which cause an excessive buildup of fluids in the lungs and the chest cavity lining. Both cases can, if left untreated, be fatal.
Symptoms
The common symptoms of asbestos mesothelioma or asbestosis are difficulty breathing, where the air flow feels raspy and harsh. The efficiency of the lungs is also compromised by the asbestos particles, leading to a severe drop in stamina. These symptoms can easily be misaken for any number of less hazardous ailments, including simply being out of shape or growing old. An x ray, however, will be sufficient to reveal if asbestos fibers have indeed lodged in the lungs.
The symptoms of mesothelioma, however, are similar to the above but also include sharp chest pains or numbness in the chest area, and the difficulty breathing also includes a "liquid" or "phlegmy" feeling caused by the buildup of excess liquid in the lungs and lining. Again, and x ray will be able to reveal the presence of any cancerous tumors in the lungs brought on by asbestos fibers.
Effects
The effects of both asbestosis and mesothelioma are ultimately fatal if left untreated. Asbestosis will lead eventually to a clogging of the lung sacs from the build up of scar tissue, and worst case scenario will cause pulmonary emboli, the development of blood clots in the lungs. These have been known to spread through the blood into the heart, causing cardiac arrest.
Mesothelioma, on the other hand, is a cancer, and in and of itself is fatal because of the cell degradation it causes in the lung and heart areas. Internal hemmorhaging is one known result of untreated mesothelioma, and another is the clogging og the cardiovascular system from the general buildup of fluids in the chest cavity and lining caused by the body's failed attempts to fight the tumors.
Treatment
Treating asbestosis or asbestos mesothelioma is still a fairly simple procedure compared to mesothelioma. Since the problem with asbestosis is primarily due to the scar tissue and asbestos fibers, surgery can still treat this problem. However, if the lung condition has worsened to mesothelioma, chemotherapy is required to alleviate the problem. Simple surgery for mesothelioma has proven unsuccessful, and often the afflicted patients only have a 5 year lifespan post operation.
The most effective treatment to date for mesothelioma involves a combination of laser surgery and chemotherapy. The heat of a laser as opposed to a regular scalpel helps to burn out the tumors without causing any damage to the surrounding tissue, and the heat also makes the targeted areas more receptive to the medicines employed in the actual chemotherapy. This particular combination has shown the highest treatment success rate for mesothelioma.
Avoidance/Safety Tips
The best way to avoid asbestosis and mesothelioma is to avoid areas with high asbestos concentration. This not only involves people who work in industrial settings, but even other people are prone to it if they live in or near a building which uses asbestos heavily in it's construction materials. Some old houses and facilities used to employ asbestos as part of their foundations in an effort to add an element of fire proofing.
If exposure to asbestos cannot be avoided, then it is advised that people wear filtered face masks to keep the fibers out when they are in the vicinity of asbestos. Also, asbestos fibers can cling to the skin and clothes, so bathing and washing clothes completely after exposure is also advised as a way to avoid contracting asbestosis and mesothelioma.
For more information on mesothelioma and lung cancer, please go to: http://mymesotheliomacancer.com/?page_id=626
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