Symptoms Of Asbestosis
Asbestos
Asbestos has been linked to severe harmful effects to human health. The naturally occurring mineral used in various building and other products can be very dangerous and may result in the development of fatal and incurable diseases. Asbestos exposure has been known to cause serious diseases like lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. The difficulty is that very often asbestos poisoning symptoms become evident after quite a long period of time when the disease has already advanced. The late diagnosis makes the treatment very hard.
Asbestos Poisoning
To understand asbestos symptoms in humans it must be seen how asbestos poisoning takes place. Asbestos may be present in building materials, old houses, roofing, walls, plaster, floors, pipes, protective clothing and cement etc. When asbestos products become worn out or are disturbed they release small asbestos fibers in the air. The microscopic asbestos fibers are not visible to the human eye and people exposed to them can inhale them easily via mouth and nose without even knowing about it. The harmful effects may be determined by the frequency of asbestos exposure or long-term exposure to it.
When these fibers are inhaled or swallowed they may not show any symptoms of asbestos poisoning immediately. The trouble is that these tiny fibers become lodged in human body and there is no way that the body can expel them. By staying in the body they may create complications in the shape of diseases that manifest themselves by showing signs of asbestos exposure and poisoning after a long period of time. The period of asbestos exposure and the time when the disease develops and is noticed is called the latency period. This period is often too long and can be from ten years to as long as forty years.
What are the symptoms of asbestos exposure?
The warning symptoms of asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer or other asbestos related diseases to be looked out for are as under:
Breathing problems
Pleural effusion
Coughing
Swallowing difficulties
Weight loss
Appetite loss
Fatigue
Chest pain
Swelling
Hoarseness
Anemia
Blood clotting
Fever
As the symptoms of asbestos poisoning are very similar to other conditions, it makes the diagnosis of asbestos related diseases more complex.
Legal help for asbestos poisoning
Asbestos poisoning can be life threatening. The use of asbestos is heavily regulated because of its hazardous nature. People working in places where there is risk of dangerous asbestos exposure are more prone to the danger of developing these diseases. The responsibility therefore lies on such workplaces to provide appropriate preventive measures and warn the employees of the potential dangers. In the event of this not happening, it can make such workplaces or businesses liable for their negligence. The disregard to protect workers can lead to legal action.
If you or loved one has been diagnosed with such a deadly disease that was a result of asbestos exposure due to negligence, then remember you can always get legal help. It is your right to get justice and also seek compensation for the harm done.
