Asbestosis symptoms and prevention

Asbestosis is a respiratory disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers, in which the lungs extensive scar tissue is formed. Asbestos fibers consist of silicate minerals with different chemical composition. If inhaled, asbestos fibers settle in the lungs, causing scarring. Inhalation of asbestos can also cause thickening of the pleura (the membrane that lines the lungs).


CAUSE
Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring (fibrosis) in the lungs. Lung tissue fibrosis that form can not inflate and deflate properly. Severity of the disease depends on the duration of exposure and the number of fibers inhaled. Exposure to asbestos can be found in the mining and milling industries, construction and other industries. Exposure to asbestos workers' families can also occur from particles brought home on the clothing workers.

Diseases caused by asbestos include:

Pleural plaques (calcification)
Malignant mesothelioma
Pleural effusion.

Mesotheliomas can occur within 20-40 years after exposure. Cigarette smoking causes increased risk of diseases caused by asbestos. The number of events is equal to 4 among 10,000 people.


SYMPTOMS
Symptoms of asbestosis appear gradually and emerging only after the formation of scar tissue in large quantities and the lungs lose their elasticity. The first symptoms are shortness of breath and a mild decrease in the ability to perform calisthenics. About 15% of patients, will experience severe shortness of breath and respiratory failure.

Heavy smokers with chronic bronchitis and asbestosis, will suffer from coughing and wheezing. Inhaling asbestos fibers can sometimes lead to accumulation of fluid in the space between two membranes lining the lungs. Although rare, asbestos can also cause tumors called mesotheliomas in the pleura or the lining of the abdomen, called peritoneal mesotheliomas.

Mesotheliomas caused by asbestos are malignant and incurable. Mesotheliomas generally arise stelah krokidolit exposed, one of four types of asbestos. Amosit, the other type, also cause mesothelioma. Krisotil may not cause mesothelioma, but sometimes tainted by tremolit that can cause mesothelioma. Mesothelioma usually occurs after exposure for 30-40 years. Lung cancer will occur in patients with asbestosis who also smoke, especially those who smoked more than 1 (one) pack a day.

Other symptoms that may be found:
- Cough
- Tightness in chest
- Chest pain
- Nail abnormalities or clubbing of fingers (fingers form that resembles a drum percussion).


Diagnosis
On physical examination using a stethoscope, will hear the sound crackles.

To confirm the diagnosis, usually done the following checks:

Chest X-rays
Lung function tests
CT scan of the lung.


TREATMENT
Supportive treatment to cope with the symptoms is to remove mucus / phlegm from the lungs through the procedure postural drainage, chest percussion and vibration. Given drugs to thin the mucus spray. May need to be given oxygen, either through a facemask (mask) or through a plastic tube mounted on the nostril. Sometimes performed lung transplantation. Fatal mesothelioma, chemotherapy is not very useful and removal of the tumor does not cure cancer.


PREVENTION
Asbestosis can be prevented by reducing levels of asbestos fibers and dust in the working environment. Because the industries that use asbestos dust control has been done, now fewer who suffer asbestosis, but mesotheliomas still occur in people who have been exposed 40 years ago. To reduce the risk of lung cancer, to workers dealing with asbestos, it is recommended to quit smoking