Long-term asbestos exposure is known to be life-threatening and can result in highly debilitating asbestos symptoms.
This fibre-like substance was widely used in construction during the 1900s, and it can still be found in roofing, tiles, and insulation, among
other things.
Despite the fact that asbestos was outlawed in the UK in 1999, many construction workers were still exposed to it.
Furthermore, asbestos fibres can be discharged into the air if asbestos-containing objects are destroyed during restorations or demolition.
When asbestos fibres are breathed, they make their way into the lungs and stay there for years.
They will harm the lungs in the long run.
Asbestosis is the medical term for this ailment, which is derived from the word asbestos.
Many people, on the other hand, may be unaware of the symptoms and the true nature of the illness that might develop.
And this is exactly what we’ll be talking about down below.
• What exactly is asbestosis, and how does it affect you?
Who is in jeopardy?
• Asbestosis Symptoms • Asbestosis Causes • Asbestosis Treatment • Asbestosis Prognosis • Compensation
What is Asbestosis and How Does It Affect You?
Asbestosis is a long-term lung disease.
Asbestosis is caused by long-term or repeated exposure to asbestos fibres.
Asbestos fibres go deep into the lungs after being breathed.
The scarring of lung tissue will be caused by these fibres.
Shortness of breath is common as a result of this.
Asbestosis has a wide range of symptoms.
They can be minor, and they generally appear after a period of time has passed since the asbestos exposure.
Symptoms usually get more severe over time.
Unfortunately, the majority of people who developed asbestosis did so as a result of their occupation.
Asbestos usage was not controlled nor outlawed a few years ago.
Furthermore, the majority of asbestos-exposed employees were unaware of the material’s hazards, and many did not even wear the
proper safety equipment to protect themselves.
Who is in jeopardy?
Workers who used to work in the construction sector may have been exposed to asbestos fibres on a daily basis, as previously stated.
This includes employees who worked as electricians, plumbers, heating and ventilation engineers, miners, boiler operators, mechanics,
railroad workers, shipyard workers, refinery and mill workers, and demolition workers, among others.
Asbestos usage was made illegal in the United Kingdom in 1999, and since then, asbestos exposure has been considerably decreased.
Asbestosis has become an outcome of this.
However, if you’re doing any remodelling or demolition work, make sure to get an asbestos test done so you’ll know whether the materials
you’re working with contain asbestos.
You will be able to take the required preventative and additional safety precautions in this manner.
Symptoms of Asbestosis in the Workplace
It takes several years for the consequences of long-term asbestos exposure to manifest.
Symptoms often appear 10 to 40 years after the original asbestos exposure.
During this time, asbestos fibres will have stayed in the lungs, scarring them.
Furthermore, the intensity of the symptoms might vary greatly.
Shortness of breath Coughing that is dry wheezing Crackling sounds when breathing in Chest tightness or chest pain is often
accompanied by pain in the shoulder. Swelling in the neck or face Swallowing DifficultiesHypertension Blood in sputum The fingertips and
toes start to appear wider and longer.
The majority of these signs and symptoms are also linked to pleural mesothelioma, lung cancer, and pneumonia.
Symptoms’ Cause
The above-mentioned symptoms are caused by lung scarring caused by asbestos fibres in the lungs.
The lungs get irritated with time, and they become less capable of exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.
As a result, the patient’s lung function deteriorates, causing tiredness.
Due to a lack of adequate oxygen, the lungs and the patient’s heart would be subjected to even more stress in the latter stages of
asbestosis.
As a result, a large number of individuals develop severe lung disease and/or heart failure.
The pleural thickening causes shortness of breath, which is a typical sign of asbestosis.
Long-term exposure to asbestos fibres will cause a thickening of the lungs’ lining.
Pleural effusion, or the accumulation of fluid between the chest wall and the lungs, might also result.
All of this obstructs the healthy functioning of the lungs and heart.
As more fluid builds up, you will have increased shortness of breath.
As a result, asbestosis can cause a wide range of symptoms, which can worsen with time.
The illness causes the lungs to be unable to completely oxygenate the blood, making the heart work harder.
As a result, blood pressure rises, and more fluid accumulates in the region surrounding the heart and lungs.
This causes swelling in the face and neck, as well as difficulty swallowing.
Fluid buildup in the abdomen is also possible in rare situations.
This causes bloating and discomfort, as well as a decrease in appetite and weight loss.
Finger deformity, or clubbing, might occur if the fluid retention is not treated appropriately and promptly.
Asbestosis Treatment
If you’re suffering any of the following symptoms and aren’t sure if you’ve ever been exposed to asbestos fibres, make an appointment
with your doctor.
If asbestosis is suspected, your doctor may examine your lungs and may refer you to a lung disease expert for a series of specialised
testing.
A chest x-ray, a CT scan of the lungs, and lung function tests are examples of these tests.
Unfortunately, there is no treatment for asbestosis once it has developed since there is no way to undo the damage to the lungs caused
by asbestos exposure.
As a result, the majority of asbestosis treatment focuses on alleviating the patient’s different symptoms.
If the patient smokes, one of the most essential things to do is to stop smoking, since otherwise, the asbestosis symptoms will worsen,
and the risk of lung cancer will skyrocket.
Oxygen therapy and pulmonary rehabilitation are two common treatments.
The former is inhaling oxygen-rich air from a machine or a tank to relieve dyspnea, especially in patients with very low blood oxygen
levels.
Pulmonary rehabilitation, on the other hand, is a programme in which the patient is assisted in performing certain exercises in order to
control their symptoms.
In most cases, an inhaler is also recommended to help with breathing.
Some of the symptoms linked with shortness of breath and coughing might be alleviated with palliative care.
For some individuals, thoracentesis or pleurodesis may be recommended.
Doctors may propose a lung transplant in the most severe instances, although this is usually a last resort.
Unless there is another illness that affects the lungs, most people with asbestosis will not benefit from treatment.
In more severe instances, small dosages of morphine may be given to help with dyspnea and coughing.
Patients who have been diagnosed with asbestosis are at an increased risk of getting lung cancer.
If the patient has a history of smoking, this is typically the case.
Asbestosis patients are also more likely to develop pleural disease, which is a thickening of the pleura, or lining of the lungs.
Malignant mesothelioma can also develop in some situations.
Compensation
You may be eligible for compensation if you have been diagnosed with asbestosis.
This can happen as a result of a civil claim for compensation against a former employer or as a result of a claim for governmental
compensation under the Pneumoconiosis etc. (Workers’ Compensation) Act 1979.
You can also see if you’re eligible for an industrial injury disability payment.
Preventing Asbestosis
Even though asbestos is no longer authorised for usage, it is still necessary to exercise caution in order to avoid any exposure.
Asbestos-containing materials are often found in older buildings, and if they are disturbed in any way, asbestos particles can become
airborne and inhaled.
It’s also worth noting that, despite the fact that severe regulations regarding the use of asbestos in the workplace were implemented in the
UK in the 1970s, the import and supply of brown and blue asbestos was not prohibited until 1985, and white asbestos was only prohibited
in 1999.
As a result, numerous buildings were constructed during that time period, and there’s a significant possibility they contain asbestos.
As a result, if you suspect your home may contain asbestos, seek the counsel of a competent asbestos contractor, especially if you plan
to rebuild or destroy, and have an asbestos assessment performed.
To prevent asbestos-containing materials from becoming friable, even slightly damaged asbestos-containing materials should be carefully
handled, such as by sealing.
In conclusion
It’s critical to be aware of the common signs of asbestos exposure so that you can seek medical help if necessary.
Given that there is no treatment for asbestosis, it is even more critical to exercise extreme caution while handling asbestos-containing
products.
