Understanding the symptoms of diseases from asbestos exposure

People in North Carolina who might have faced exposure to toxic material at work may wonder whether or not they are beginning to show signs of various diseases such as mesothelioma. The symptoms of lung disease can be confusing at first, but it’s important to understand these symptoms.

The symptoms can slowly manifest themselves from a decade to more than 40 years after exposure. If pleural effusion is starting, the symptoms can be pain in the side of the victim’s chest. This can be found via X-ray and its symptoms will begin to arise earlier than other lung issues. If a person is suffering from mesothelioma, the symptoms include pain in the chest and feeling short of breath. This is due to pleural effusion. Asbestosis shows itself through feeling short of breath when exerting oneself physically. A feeling of tiredness and a dry cough are also symptoms. If examined by a doctor, the sound that comes through a stethoscope will be crackling when inhaling.

After exposure to asbestos, some people develop lung cancer. The first indication is a cough that grows progressively worse. This cough will be continuous without signs of abating. In addition, the person might suffer from pains in the chest and possibly spit up blood when coughing. Losing weight, excessive tiredness and having lung infections on a frequent basis are also signals that there may be lung cancer.

There are many industries in which workers were unknowingly exposed to asbestos and, as a result, are suffering from various lung diseases such as mesothelioma. It’s possible that the employer was unaware that there was asbestos present. Or it’s possible that they knew and left their workers in danger by failing to warn them. Workers’ compensation is a right for workers who were made ill by their work environment, but sometimes the insurer doesn’t want to pay. When concerned about lung problems from asbestos, it’s important to discuss the matter with a legal professional who is experienced in getting workers’ compensation benefits for afflicted clients.

Source: NHLBI.NIH.gov, “What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Asbestos-Related Lung Diseases,” accessed on Oct. 20, 2014