Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Asbestosis is a class of lung disease (pneumoconiosis) that is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. Patients who are diagnosed with asbestosis may want to discuss with their doctors:

1. Is there a cure for asbestosis?

   There is no cure for pulmonary asbestosis. Asbestosis is a progressive disease. While less acute cases of the disease can be treated with some degree of success, disease management is usually the goal.

2. What are some of the symptoms of asbestosis?

   There are a expansive range of asbestosis symptoms that patients may experience: chest pain, fatigue, shortness of breath due to decreased total lung capacity, respiratory failure, finger deformity, the formation of plaque in the parietal pleura, diffused fibrotic pattern in the lower lobes of the lungs as well as more. Cough is a rare symptom of asbestosis.

3. Do asbestosis patients need to be hospitalized?

   Only a patient’s own healthcare professional can answer this definitively, but many patients will need to be hospitalized until they undergo aggressive treatment, depending on the stage as well as acuity of their condition.

4. What drugs are used to treat asbestosis?

   Asbestosis treatment usually focuses on symptom relief, as well as patients are recommended to refrain from smoking during treatment. Patients may be prescribed oxygen therapy, nebulizer medication, corticosteroids, immunosuppressors, flu vaccine, as well as medications that relax blood vessel walls. Additionally, patients may undergo physiotherapy or, rarely, a lung transplant.

5. What side effects do these drugs have?

   Immunosuppressors may cause hyperglycemia, hypertension, stomach ulcers, as well as liver or kidney damage. A healthcare professional or pharmacist can go into more detail about any specific medications that may be prescribed.

6. What other risks are associated with having asbestosis?

Incase you develop asbestosis, it is a sign that you possess experienced significant asbestos exposure. It as well as means that you are increased risk for developing other asbestos-related diseases similar mesothelioma, a cancer that is strongly associated with asbestos exposure.

For the filled story, go to EmpowHer.