Asbestosis Treatment

Asbestosis is a pulmonary disease which is caused due to prolonged exposure to asbestos. Asbestos refers to a group of naturally occurring minerals that have thin fibrous crystals. Since asbestos is an insulator and is resistant to heat and corrosion, it is widely used as a building material. Those who work in the construction industry are prone to developing asbestosis due to long-term exposure to asbestos. Inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious damage to the lungs. The symptoms of asbestosis are not really conspicuous in the early stages. The symptoms develop gradually over a period of time and by the time, the disease is diagnosed, irreversible damage to the lungs has already been done. Since the damage to lungs cannot be reversed, asbestosis treatment is basically aimed at easing the symptoms of asbestosis. Here is some information on the causes, symptoms and treatment of asbestosis.

Causes and Symptoms of Asbestosis

There are certain occupations where there is an increased risk of developing asbestosis. Construction workers, demolition and wrecking crews, electricians, shipyard workers, automobile mechanics, railroad workers and those who work in other industries where asbestos is used, must be made aware about asbestos dangers. Asbestosis is a latent disease and the symptoms fully develop after several years of exposure. Asbestosis is basically caused due to inhalation of the tiny asbestos fibers. Once these are inhaled, they get embedded in the lung tissue. As a result, the lung tissue gets inflamed and irritated.

Prolonged exposure leads to the buildup of a scar-like tissue that replaces the healthy lung tissue. The signs of asbestos exposure include difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, chest tightness, clubbing of fingers and chest pain. Those suffering from asbestosis generally experience shortness of breath during physical exertion. As the disease progresses, one might experience painful breathing and shortness of breath even while resting.

Treatment of Asbestosis

The lung tissue that has been scarred cannot be repaired which is why preventing further damage by ending asbestos exposure is an essential aspect of asbestosis treatment. Asbestosis prognosis basically depends on the level of asbestos exposure. People who work in industries where they might be exposed to asbestos must get themselves medically examined. The extent of scarring in the lung tissue is first determined with the help of diagnostic tests. Pulmonary function tests and chest X-rays can help in ascertaining the extent of scarring in the interstitial lung tissues. In case of severe damage, surgery might be recommended. If the patient has been diagnosed with asbestosis along with other serious lung conditions, lung transplant might be considered.

Doctors generally recommend the use of pain killers, bronchodilators and antibiotics for relieving the symptoms. If lung function has been greatly affected, oxygen therapy might be required as well. Shortness of breath can be treated with the help of bronchodilators that relax the airways so that more air can be inhaled into the lungs. Antibiotics might also be prescribed to lower the risk of infections. Since excessive lung scarring can also be accompanied by a buildup of mucus secretions in the lungs, a procedure called postural drainage might be employed to remove these secretions in order to improve lung capacity.

People diagnosed with asbestosis must not indulge in smoking. Those who continue to smoke even after being diagnosed with asbestosis are more likely to develop lung cancer. Asbestosis also makes one susceptible to lung problems such as malignant mesothelioma, emphysema, pleural effusion and pulmonary hypertension and cardiovascular problems, therefore, efforts must be taken to slow down the progression of this disease. The symptoms of asbestos exposure can also be relieved to some extent by following alternative healing therapies such as acupuncture, meditation, deep breathing exercises, herbal remedies and homeopathy.

Since exposure to asbestos can adversely affect the lungs, efforts must be made by the employers to make sure that employees are not exposed to asbestos beyond the permissible asbestos exposure limits. Those who have been diagnosed with asbestosis must make sure that they are not exposed to asbestos. They should also live in clean surroundings and avoid coming into contact with other irritants to avoid further complications.