Asbestosis

Asbestosis

Overview

Asbestosis (as-bes-TOE-sis) is a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Prolonged exposure to these fibers can cause lung tissue scarring and shortness of breath. Asbestosis symptoms can range from mild to severe, and usually don't appear until many years after initial exposure.

Asbestos is a natural mineral product that's resistant to heat and corrosion. It was used extensively in the past in products such as insulation, cement and some floor tiles.

Most people with asbestosis acquired it on the job before the federal government began regulating the use of asbestos and asbestos products in the 1970s. Today, its handling is strictly regulated. Getting asbestosis is extremely unlikely if you follow your employer's safety procedures. Only trained and accredited asbestos professionals should manage asbestos products. Treatment focuses on relieving your symptoms.

Symptoms

The effects of long-term exposure to asbestos typically don't show up until 10-40 years after initial exposure. Symptoms can vary in severity.

Asbestosis signs and symptoms may include:

Shortness of breath

A persistent, dry cough

Chest tightness or pain

Dry and crackling sounds in your lungs when you inhale

Fingertips and toes that appear wider and rounder than usual (clubbing)

Causes

If you are exposed to high levels of asbestos dust over a long period of time, some of the airborne fibers can become lodged within your alveoli — the tiny sacs inside your lungs where oxygen is exchanged for carbon dioxide in your blood. The asbestos fibers irritate and scar lung tissue, causing the lungs to become stiff. This makes it difficult to breathe.

As asbestosis progresses, more and more lung tissue becomes scarred. Eventually, your lung tissue becomes so stiff that it can't contract and expand normally.

Smoking appears to increase the retention of asbestos fibers in the lungs, and often results in a faster progression of the disease.

What products still contain asbestos?

Materials and products that may contain asbestos include:

Car clutch pads and brake linings.

Construction cement, putties and plaster.

Insulation.

Pipe wrapping.

Siding and roof shingles.

Vinyl floor tiles.

Casings for electrical wires.

Millboard.

Patching and joint compound.

Floor tile and adhesives.

Soundproofing material.

Many household products and substances also contain asbestos, including:

Artificial ashes and embers used in gas-fired fireplaces.

Automobile brake pads and linings, clutch facings and gaskets.

Fireproof gloves, stovetop pads, table pads and fire-resistant fabrics (including blankets and curtains).

Some plastics, paints, coatings and adhesives.

Vermiculite-containing attic insulation and consumer garden products.

Risk Factor

There are regulations in place now that reduce your asbestos exposure while on the job. Still, certain occupations face asbestos exposure, particularly if you demolish or renovate buildings built before the 1970s. Homes built before 1977 may also contain asbestos in materials like pipes, ceilings and floor tiles. Just because you live in a home built before 1977 doesn’t mean you’re at risk. Risk only occurs when asbestos is in an inhalable form like dust. When it’s in a solid state, you’re not at risk.

You’re more at risk of getting asbestosis if you have long-term exposure to asbestos. This is true if your job involves handling materials containing asbestos. These types of jobs include:

Asbestos miners, installers or removers.

Auto and aircraft mechanics.

Construction crews.

Electrical workers.

Railroad and shipyard workers.

Studies also show that people who were involved in the rescue and cleanup at the site of the attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City are at risk for asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis.

Factors that affect your risk of developing asbestosis

The following factors play a role in your risk:

Duration: How long you were exposed to asbestos. In general, the longer your exposure, the higher your risk.

Intensity: How much asbestos you were exposed to.

Type of industry: Your risk is lower if asbestos is bonded into a product (such as walls or tiles). Your risk is higher if asbestos is released into the air, such as during sawing or demolition.

Personal risk factors: Smoking or preexisting lung disease.

Genetics: Having a genetic mutation to the BAP1 gene.

People with the disease tend to have had exposure for many years through an occupation. You’re not likely to get asbestosis if you disrupt asbestos during a home renovation, for example.

Complication

Many people who have asbestosis have breathing trouble and a cough that doesn’t go away. In more severe cases, complications can be life-threatening.

Complications of asbestosis may include:

Lung cancer: People who have asbestosis and smoke cigarettes have an even higher risk of lung cancer.

Mesothelioma: Cancer that forms in the lining of your abdomen, chest or lungs.

Respiratory failure: Your lungs can’t put enough oxygen into your blood, and carbon dioxide builds up in your tissues.

Right-sided heart failure: The right side of your heart stops working correctly.

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider will examine you and ask about your medical history. Remember to tell them about your exposure to any harmful substances like asbestos.

Your healthcare provider may also order tests to complete the diagnosis. These might include:

A chest X-ray.

A computed tomography (CT) scan.

Lung function tests like spirometry.

Bronchoscopy.

Treatment

There's no treatment to reverse the effects of asbestos on the alveoli. Treatment focuses on slowing the progression of the disease, relieving symptoms and preventing complications.

You'll need routine follow-up care, such as chest X-rays or CT scans and lung function tests, at regular intervals depending on the severity of your condition. Prompt treatment of respiratory infections can help prevent complications.

Therapy

To ease breathing difficulty caused by advanced asbestosis, your health care provider might prescribe supplemental oxygen. This is delivered by thin plastic tubing with prongs that fit into your nostrils or thin tubing connected to a mask worn over your nose and mouth.

Participating in a pulmonary rehabilitation program may help some people. The program offers educational and exercise components such as breathing and relaxation techniques, ways to improve physical activity habits, and education to improve overall health.

Surgery

If your symptoms are severe, you might be a candidate for a lung transplant.

Type of Doctor Department  :A pulmonologist