Symptoms, diagnosis, healing, prevention and how to reduce the negative effects of Asbestos
Symptoms
Asbestosis Symptoms appear gradually and only emerged only after the formation of scar tissue in large quantities and the lungs lose elasticity.
The first symptoms are shortness of breath, light and reduced ability to exercise. Around 15% of patients will experience severe shortness of breath and respiratory failure.
Heavy smokers with chronic bronchitis and Asbestosis will suffer from cough and asthma. Inhaling asbestos fibers can sometimes cause the gathering of fluid in the space between the membranes that line the lungs. Although rare, asbestos can cause tumors in the pleura or mesotelioma called on the stomach lining called the peritoneal mesotelioma.
Mesotelioma caused by asbestos malignancy and cannot be cured. Mesotelioma generally appear after exposure Crocidolite, one of the 4 types of asbestos. Amosite the other types also causing mesotelioma. Chrysotile may not cause mesotelioma but sometimes contaminated by tremolite, which can cause mesotelioma. Mesotelioma usually occurs after exposure for 30-40 years.
Lung cancer will occur in people who also smoke Asbestosis, especially those who smoke more than one pack a day.
Other symptoms that may be found:
* Cough
* Tightness in the chest
* Chest pain
* Nail abnormalities or clubbing of fingers (the fingers of the hand that resembles a drum percussion).
Diagnosis
On physical examination with a stethoscope, will ronki voice. To confirm the diagnosis, usually made following examination:
* Chest X-rays
* Tests of lung function
* CT scan of the lung.
Healing
Supportive treatment to overcome the symptoms that arise is to remove the mucus from the lung through postural drainage procedures, chest percussion and vibration. Inhaler was given to thin the mucus. May need to be given oxygen, either through the front shield (mask) or through a plastic tube that is placed in the nostrils. Sometimes performed lung transplants. Result of Mesotelioma is so bad. Chemotherapy was not a lot of useful and tumor removal does not cure cancer.
Prevention
Asbestosis can be prevented by reducing levels of asbestos fibers and dust in the work environment. Since the industrial use of asbestos dust control is done, now who are suffering fewer Asbestosis, but mesotelioma still occur in people who had been exposed 40 years ago.
To reduce the risk of lung cancer, to the workers associated with asbestos, it is recommended to quit smoking. Meanwhile, in order to avoid the source of the disease will spread in the family, advised all workers to wash his work clothes at the factory, and replacing them with clean clothes to go back to the house. So that all work clothes, no one brought home, and workers cleaned up or a shower before returning home each.
How to reduce negative effect of asbestos:
1. if using asbestos roof, use the ceiling for prevent asbestos dust and fibers down into the house.
2. Replace asbestos once every 5 years, although there are no signs of damage.
3. When working on asbestos, use maskers.
4. Make a well-ventilated, good ventilation will reduce the effects of radon gas is contained in the asbestos.
5. Painting the asbestos is not a solution to prevent asbestos inhaled by us, asbestos that is damaged though painted still will cause the same effect.
