Asbestosis

What is Asbestosis?

Inhaled asbestos fibers lodge in the inner lung tissue. They attach like Velcro to the alveoli or tiny air sacs, and it is impossible to exhale them.

The body’s immune system can’t break down or decompose asbestos fibers as it does with organic and biological impurities. These microscopic asbestos particles cover the lung interior and stay permanently in place. The body’s natural recourse is to form scar tissue over the trapped asbestos fibers.

Eventually, this mass of scar tissue thickens and hardens. It causes the lungs to stiffen, then normal expansion and contraction of the lungs becomes difficult or impossible.

Asbestosis doesn’t metastasize or spread like cancer tumors. Rather, the scar tissue makes breathing so difficult that the asbestosis victim essentially suffocates over time. This disease also stresses other body functions and can send the patient into multiple organ failures or cardiac arrest.

Asbestosis Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Asbestosis is a lung disease directly related to asbestos exposure. It’s confined to the lungs whereas other asbestos diseases affect multiple organs like the heart, kidneys, intestinal tract, ovaries, and testicles.

Asbestosis remains benign in the lungs, but it’s a devastating disease. The worst thing about asbestosis is the pain and discomfort of the symptoms present.

Asbestosis symptoms include:

• Chest pain and shortness of breath
• Chronic fatigue and lack of oxygenated blood
• Dry and persistent coughing
• Loss of appetite resulting in weight loss
• Swelling of fingertips known as clubbing

Treating asbestosis is nearly impossible—short of a lung transplant. This asbestos-related disease is not curable. Its only treatment is to manage the symptoms and make the patient comfortable.

Oxygen therapy is the main auxiliary treatment. Many asbestosis patients find themselves permanently attached to an oxygen bottle and being supported by pain-relieving medications.

Smoking is the worst thing an asbestosis patient can do. Studies conclusively show that smokers were at least 50 times more likely to develop asbestosis than non-smokers.

Even when exposed to the same amount, duration, and asbestos fiber type, smokers far outnumbered tobacco sustainers in developing asbestosis. Continued smoking severely increased asbestosis advancement.

Physicians who recognize the symptoms and isolate asbestosis find that it is easy to tell the difference between this lung disease from other pulmonary disorders like emphysema, bronchitis and COPD. Discussing a history of asbestos exposure is a primary diagnostic step.

A diagnosis is confirmed by chest X-rays, biopsies and blood work to confirm this disease so management plans can begin. Typical cancer intervention treatments like surgery, radiation and chemotherapy don’t work with asbestosis since it is not a cancer.

Compensation for Asbestosis Victims

Sufferers who developed asbestosis through workplace asbestos exposure can claim compensation from negligent employers and manufacturers of asbestos-containing materials. Strong cases proving negligence have court precedents, and legal counsel should be sought to pursue compensation claims.

Many states have statutory time limits on filing an action against those who negligently caused workers to suffer from asbestosis. The clock starts from the time asbestosis is diagnosed by a medical practitioner, not from the time a worker was last exposed to asbestos-containing materials.

Compensation payments include settlements for medical expenses, lost income and punitive damages for personal injury. Families of asbestosis patients may claim on their behalf. They can also file lawsuits in wrongful death cases.

For more information on legal action and compensation, fill out our quick form for a free case review.