It has been said, repeatedly, that too much of anything is bad. An application of this saying is the occurrence of asbestosis. It is a chronic disease attacking the lungs, which causes it to break down. In severe cases, asbestosis can lead to lung cancer of different types. One of the occupational hazards that a miner or construction worker is prone to is asbestosis since asbestos is a by-product of their primary job. While on the job, a worker cannot help but inhale the asbestos fibers that he is regularly exposed to and the resulting accumulation of these minerals in your lungs increases your chances of suffering from asbestosis.
Asbestosis cannot be diagnosed at an early time since it develops over time. Studies indicate that this condition can be determined only after 20 or 30 years from the moment an individual is initially exposed. Although some of the signs and symptoms of asbestosis can be mistaken for asthma, the person should be aware if his job involved the use of asbestos, directly or indirectly. The things to watch out for would be shortness of breath, chest pain and the low tolerance for performing any physical activity. There may be finger clubbing and coughing in certain cases. You should consult a doctor to know if you have asbestosis or another respiratory disease.
Several tests may be conducted on the patient to be able to detect asbestosis. Chest x-rays, pulmonary function and computerized tomography scan are the recommended test that you should be subjected to ascertain the gravity of your health status. How mild or severe is your condition may lead to some complications affecting your lungs and your heart. Although there is no effective treatment to reverse the incidence of asbestosis once a person has been diagnosed to be afflicted with it, there are remedies to alleviate and stop the progression of this illness. The recommended treatments may include medications for the lungs and the blood vessels, vaccinations and putting a stop to your smoking habits.
It is fortunate that several governments have created laws regulating the use of asbestos in the area of manufacturing, mining and other industrial activities. During the middle of the 1970s, the United States federal government implemented policies protecting the health rights of workers that are subjected to exposure to asbestos fibers and other toxic elements. Another development was that the cessation from contact to asbestos has positive effects on the worker as the incidence of asbestosis is greatly reduced.