Asbestos Exposure-Dangers

No doubt you've heard of asbestos and that long-term exposure to it can be fatal.
So what exactly is it? Well, asbestos is used to describe certain fibrous minerals
that have great fire-proof and insulating properties and high levels of strength.
The attributes of asbestos have made it popular (up until recently) in the
building industry and you'll find it has been commonly used in things like
sheeting, piping, roofing, fences, tiles, car brake pads, clutches and
transmission as well as rollboard and millboard.
Being exposed to asbestos and inhaling or swalling the fibres can lead to serious
health concerns over time. Long-term exposure has shown to cause significant
damage to lungs by sticking to the lung walls each time it is inhaled.
The fibres stuck to the lung walls can cause diseases like pleural plaques,
mesothelioma and lung cancer. Smokers are at greater risk of contracting one of
these diseases following asbetsos exposure.
Below is some information about the major diseases caused by long-term exposure to
asbestos:-
Asbestosis
This is a serious and progressive lung disease. It happens when asbestos is
breathed in over time and the particles irritate the lungs and cause scarring. The
scarring makes it difficult for oxygen to pass from the lungs and into the blood
stream.
Some of the symptoms of asbestosis are having shortness of breath, and hearing a
crackling sound in the lungs when you breath in.
At the time of publication there is no effective treatment for asbestosis.
For more info see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestosis
Lung Cancer
This type of cancer is the biggest killer of all diseases related to asbestos.
Most commonly, the diseases affects those people that used to produce asbetsos
materials or work with them regularly.
Some of the most common symptoms of lung cancer are breathing pattern changes and
coughs. People also experience anemia, difficulty breathing and sometimes chest
pains.
Further facts can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lung_cancer
Mesothelioma
This is a type of cancer that is rare and is found in the membrane of the heart,
lungs, chest and abdomen. Just about 100% of the cases of this disease are caused
because of asbestos exposure. Typically, this disease shows no signs for many
years after the exposure to asbestos has happened.
More information can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesothelioma
Given the nastiness of these diseases asbestos should be treated with caution. It
is recommended hiring trained and educated asbestos removal specialists for any
renovation project that involves asbestos so you minimise the chances of
contracting these diseases.
If you suspect you might have one of these diseases you should contact a
specialise in lung diseases.
For more information on asbestos exposure visit
http://www.articlecube.com/Article/Facts-About-Asbestos-Exposure/528770