Asbestosis develops due to frequent inhalation of asbestos fibers for an extended time. The condition was prevalent back in the 70s when asbestos was utilized extensively in construction and other industries until it was no longer used due to health issues.
Asbestos is a mineral that was widely used for insulation as well as in cement and tile floors. Asbestosis causes damage to the lung tissues that results to shortness of breath.
What are the causes?
If an individual was exposed to high levels of asbestos for long periods of time, the airborne fibers infiltrate and lodge within the lungs. This results to irritation and scarring of the lung tissues in which the lungs stiffen and result to shortness of breath.
As it progresses, there is increased damage to the lung tissues where they stiffen and could no longer expand and contract normally. If an individual smokes cigarette, it causes rapid progression of the disease.
Indications
The symptoms of asbestosis are not evident until 30-40 years of exposure. Some of the indications include the following:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Persistent dry cough
- Appetite loss with unexplained weight loss
- Clubbing of the extremities
How is it diagnosed
Asbestosis is difficult to diagnose since the symptoms strikingly resemble other lung conditions. There are various diagnostic studies that are used to confirm the disease such as:
- Chest X-ray – if the disease is in an advanced state, there is excessive whitening in the lung tissues. In severe cases, the lungs have a honeycomb appearance.
- CT scan – this is used to check the extent of damage to the lung tissue
- Pulmonary function test – this is used to determine the functional level of the lungs such as the amount of air the lungs can accommodate and amount of air that goes in and out of the lungs
Management
Even today, there is no precise treatment that can reverse the effects of asbestosis. Due to this, the treatment is aimed on slowing the progression of the disease and alleviating the symptoms. This requires regular follow-up appointments that includes X-rays and pulmonary function tests. Some measures used to manage the disease include:
- Oxygen therapy – aims on promoting better breathing where oxygen is given via masks or breathing tubes. The breathing tubes are linked to a ventilator that supports breathing until the individual can breathe on his/her own.
- Surgery – in advanced cases in which the lung tissues are damaged significantly, a lung transplant might be an option.