3 disease conditions that result from asbestos exposure

Doctors and scientists agree that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos. Even if it’s a small quantity of the substance that you happen to inhale at work one day, it could result in your suffering from lung cancer, mesothelioma or asbestosis.

Symptoms of asbestos-related diseases

Here are the symptoms that accompany the most common asbestos-related disease conditions:

1) Lung cancer is probably the most frequent type of illness developed as a result of asbestos exposure. The symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pains, loss of weight, horse voice, headaches and body pains.

2) Mesothelioma is a highly specific form of lung cancer. Only 10 percent of patients who develop this condition survive longer than five years after their diagnosis. The symptoms are not so different from those listed for lung cancer. It’s just that the cancer cells are particularly unique. The mesothelioma cells aren’t limited only to the lungs. They can grow in the stomach and even affect the heart of a patient.

3) Asbestosis is another type of asbestos-caused illness that is categorized as a type of pneumoconiosis. Those who come down with asbestosis will suffer from shortness of breath, chest pain, weight loss and coughing. Like mesothelioma, there isn’t a cure for asbestosis, However, with the right medical treatment, those suffering from this illness can pay for the care they require.

No cure for these conditions

Unfortunately, there is no cure for the above disease conditions. Some treatments can relieve these symptoms and prevent the asbestos exposure illness from worsening over time — but once the damage is done by asbestos, illness from asbestos cannot be reversed. Doctors may prescribe oxygen treatment for patients with significant breathing problems. Some patients with severe symptoms may be candidates for lung transplant surgery.

Avoid smoking when vulnerable to asbestos-related diseases

Many people develop the conditions above at the same time they’re smoking. Most doctors indicate choosing to smoke — while also being vulnerable to contracting mesothelioma and other conditions — could result in the worsening of symptoms or the increased likelihood of getting sick in the first place.

Injured workers who have viable workers’ compensation claims should fully review their situations in order to maximize their claims for damages. Contact a Charlotte work injury attorney for help.