Just saying the word itself sounds bad. You aren’t wrong when you think that. You can suffer serious health problems when you are exposed to asbestos.
It isn’t an uncommon problem either. There are 39,000 lives lost every year in the United States to diseases caused by asbestos.
Were you exposed and don’t know what to expect? This post will show you what the health risks of asbestos are.
Keep reading to learn what they are.
1. Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of lung cancer. It occurs in the membrane that covers your lungs and chest cavity. It can also spread to the membrane of your abdominal cavity and the lining of your other internal organs.
It can take 30 to 40 years for Mesothelioma to develop and spread, but once it does, it’s considered one of the most dangerous cancers. There are no known cures for this disease.
2. Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the most common result of asbestos exposure. Any construction work or exposure to deteriorating asbestos products can be enough to increase your risk of lung cancer.
When you inhale asbestos, your body can’t remove the asbestos fibers, so they are a constant source of damage for your body. The longer you stay exposed, the more likely you will suffer a negative outcome.
If you expose yourself to any other kind of carcinogen, then your chance of lung cancer goes up more. This exposure can be from smoking or any second-hand exposure.
3. Asbestosis
When you breathe in asbestos, you are breathing in dangerous fibers. Asbestosis occurs when these fibers cause scarring on your lungs.
When your lungs are scarred, it’s harder for oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass through your lungs. This scarring makes it harder for you to breathe.
It takes a lot of exposure to develop symptoms of asbestosis, so most people don’t need to worry. It’s more common in people who work in demolition or construction environments for much of their lives.
4. Pleural Disease
Pleural disease isn’t cancerous, but it does change the membrane around your lungs and chest cavity. It will cause your membrane to thicken in certain areas and fluid buildup in others.
It may not cause problems breathing, but it will in more severe cases. Sufferers of pleural disease will also see a diminished lung capacity that can make them less capable of doing more physical activities.
5. Immune System Changes
We don’t know much about these types of changes. Studies have shown that there is a link between lower immune function and exposure to asbestos. But it’s unclear if the difference is the result of disease or the asbestos itself.
In cases where an individual doesn’t have any other disease, there have been signs of lower immune function.
Don’t Ignore These Health Risks of Asbestos
Just knowing the health risks of asbestos isn’t enough. It can take years before you start seeing signs of disease.
Do what you can to remove any exposure you have to reduce your chance of getting sick in the future.
If you think you are being exposed to asbestos in your home, don’t wait until it is too late. Contact someone today to fix the problem.