If you have previously come into contact with asbestos or worked in an environment where asbestos has been present you may have an increased chance of developing asbestosis.
You may have previously heard of the term 'asbestos lungs' as this is a common term for the lungs of an asbestosis sufferer. Symptoms of asbestosis begin to surface around fifteen to twenty years after the initial exposure occurs. Often some of the symptoms begin gradually and become more severe over months and years, with shortness of breath being the most common.
The shortness of breath may at first occur after physical activity but then begin happening when 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.
With asbestosis a cough is present and the cough will get worse as time goes on. The cough may be easy to ignore at first but asbestosis related coughs become more problematic over time.
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 suspected 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 lungs and chest. If asbestos is expected to be in its early stages then a CT scan may be carried out in order to get a detailed picture of the lungs.
You may have previously heard of the term 'asbestos lungs' as this is a common term for the lungs of an asbestosis sufferer. Symptoms of asbestosis begin to surface around fifteen to twenty years after the initial exposure occurs. Often some of the symptoms begin gradually and become more severe over months and years, with shortness of breath being the most common.
The shortness of breath may at first occur after physical activity but then begin happening when 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.
With asbestosis a cough is present and the cough will get worse as time goes on. The cough may be easy to ignore at first but asbestosis related coughs become more problematic over time.
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 suspected 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 lungs and chest. If asbestos is expected to be in its early stages then a CT scan may be carried out in order to get a detailed picture of the lungs.
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