Asbestos related illness can take years to develop. Symptoms may not appear for 10 to 50 years after exposure, even though the exposure itself may have been brief. Asbestos can ravage your body in many ways, but asbestosis and mesothelioma are the most common illnesses caused by exposure.
Asbestosis symptoms
Asbestosis is scarring of the lungs caused by breathing asbestos fibers. The result is reduced lung capacity. Fluid may also build up on the lungs. Early symptoms of asbestosis include:
- Shortness of breath after physical activity
- Dry cough
As asbestosis progresses symptoms can include:
- Shortness of breath at rest
- Swelling of the hands, feet, and ankles
- Chest pain
- Difficulty sleeping
- Hoarseness
- Coughing up blood
- Frequent respiratory illness
Asbestosis symptoms are often overlooked, mistaken as asthma or the results of long-term smoking. Left untreated, asbestosis can cause pleurisy, collapsed lung, and even heart failure.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is cancer caused by asbestos exposure. There are three types.
Pleural mesothelioma affects the lungs, but is not the same as lung cancer. Symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Persistent coughing
- Coughing up blood
- Rasping
- Fever
- Weight loss
Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the stomach and abdomen. Symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal swelling
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bowel obstruction
- Breathing problems
- Chest pain
- Anemia
- Blood clotting abnormalities
- Fever
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the heart. Symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent coughing
See a doctor!
If you are experiencing the symptoms of asbestosis or mesothelioma you should see a doctor right away. A mesothelioma diagnosis is often accompanied by a very short life expectancy, but mesothelioma treatmentsare improving and early detection can add years to your life. In the past many doctors recommended that people with mesothelioma just ride it out and try to enjoy the little bit of time they had left. Cancer treatments can be very painful and hard on the body. Now we have treatments which are much more effective and worth trying.
If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma or asbestosis, contact an experienced asbestos exposure attorney today.
