Serious Symptoms Of Asbestosis
Asbestosis is a lung disease that develops when asbestos fibers produce the development of fibrous tissues within the lungs. These fibrous tissues or scar tissues cause disruption in the patient's ability to breathe and the exchange of carbon dioxide for oxygen. Asbestosis can also be referred to as interstitial pneumonitis and pulmonary fibrosis. The most prevalent cause of asbestosis is exposure in the workplace before 1980. Diagnosis of asbestosis is made with the use of a physical examination, x-rays, CT scans, lung function tests, and lung biopsy. There is no way to cure asbestosis, but symptoms can be reduced or controlled with the use of treatments like medication prescription inhalers, quitting smoking, supplemental oxygen, and a lung transplant for severe cases.
Several serious symptoms manifest in asbestosis. Get familiar with them now
Chest Pain
Asbestos is a mineral dust utilized as a material to insulate different structures and objects. When an individual inhales large quantities of asbestos regularly over many years, their lungs try to eliminate the foreign substance. The mechanism the lungs use to eliminate foreign substances is mediated by the immune system in the body. The immune system reacts in the individual's lung tissues and causes widespread and severe inflammation that damages the tissues. The lungs attempt to heal themselves using dense fibrous scar tissue, which eventually produces the symptoms of asbestosis. An affected individual may describe feeling chest pain accompanied by an abnormal feeling of tightness in their chest. An individual who experiences persistent cough may experience chest pain from muscle soreness in the area as well.
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Persistent Cough
An individual affected by a persistent cough who has been exposed to asbestos regularly in the past may be affected by asbestosis. The cough associated with asbestosis is described as a dry cough that does not produce any fluids or phlegm. A persistent dry cough is caused by the scar tissue that develops in the lungs that can cause the nearby nerve fibers and other sensory structures to become irritated and trigger the coughing mechanism. The lungs use coughing as a way to attempt to expel foreign or harmful substances from the lungs and body. A patient can also develop a condition where the pleura become too thick and also cause them to cough persistently. The pleura tend to become thickened due to an excess amount of fluid trapped between them due to asbestosis. This pleura thickening can cause a patient to experience frequent coughing fits due to the lung irritation it causes.
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