If you have worked in an industry where asbestos has been present you may be at risk of developing asbestosis
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You may be wondering what exactly is Asbestosis? Asbestosis is a chronic inflammation of the tissues of the lungs. Symptoms of asbestosis begin to materialise many years after the exposure occurred. Some of the symptoms begin gradually and become more sever over time, with shortness of breath being the most common.
The shortness of breath just occur after physical activity at first but then begin happening when you are at rest eventually.
Chest pain is another symptom associated with asbestosis. It is a good idea to get chest pain checked out by a doctor in order to discover the cause.
Coughs are usually always present in the early stages of asbestosis and they usually do not clear up, unlike normal coughs..
Another symptom which is slightly less common is that the ends of the fingers become swollen and red due to a build up of fluid in the tissues. This symptom is known as finger clubbing and is much less common than the other symptoms.
A full medical history will be taken by your GP and he/she will want to know whether you have ever been exposed to asbestos and if so how long you were exposed for. Questions will also be asked surrounding the safety precautions (if any) that were taken. Your doctor will ask about the symptoms you are experiencing and probably listen to your chest using a stethoscope. If you are suffering from asbestosis then the doctor will hear a distinctive crackling noise as you exhale.
If Asbestosis is looking likely then the following three tests will be conducted - a spirometer test which measures how much oxygen you can inhale in relation to how much carbon dioxide you exhale. X-rays may be taken of your chest and lungs. If asbestos is found to be in its early stages then a CT scan may be suggested in order to get a more detailed picture of the impact on the lungs.