Asbestosis & Mesothelioma - Causes & Symptoms

Asbestosis - The Cause

Asbestosis and asbestos-related diseases are caused by inhaling asbestos fibres. There is no cure at present, but early identification can stop the condition from getting worse.

When asbestos is physically disturbed in uncontrolled circumstances, tiny, needle-like fibres of asbestos become airborne. If these fibres are inhaled they travel like small arrows deep into the lungs penetrating the tissue. The harm they cause may not be immediate, but the long-term effects are serious.

When the fibres penetrate the lung tissue, they trigger an inflammatory reaction. In an attempt to defend itself, the body sends white blood cells to engulf and attack these foreign objects. The fibres usually resist and destroy these blood cells, and this leaves increasing amounts of unwanted debris around the affected area, thereby promoting further inflammation and irreversible scarring of the lungs.

Asbestosis - The Symptoms

The symptoms of asbestosis don't tend to appear for many years. Whilst manifestation times differ with individuals, it may take as long as 25 to 40 years.

This means that even though working practices & precautions have been dramatically improved, we still see a large number of people just starting to show signs of ill health and diseases such as mesothelioma.

Typically, shortness of breath is a sign of asbestosis, as well as a sign of a range of other diseases. People may relate this symptom to a more friendly disease for their own peace-of-mind, but if you experience shortness of breath and know or suspect that you have been exposed to asbestos in your past, then it would be wise to consult your doctor.

Shortness of breath initially occurs on exertion, but later, even at rest. It is the main symptom and a result of reduced lung capacity, and pressure in and around the lungs. Other common symptoms include tiredness - from a lack of oxygen, and coughing..

Asbestosis can also cause thickening of the pleura. The pleura is the membrane that lines the outside of the lungs, and this symptom will likely only be noticed upon x-ray. It is usually an x-ray performed for a reason other than suspected asbestosis that reveals this symptom. If the thickening is severe it may restrict lung function, again causing shortness of breath.

Mesothelioma - The Cause

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, only caused by exposure to asbestos. This cancer may occur in the pleura and shortness of breath will result.

Other negative effects of mesothelioma are chest pain and intestinal obstruction. The latter results from this cancer in the abdominal wall.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of mesothelial cells. These cells cover the outer surface of most of our internal body organs, forming a lining that is sometimes called the mesothelium. So this is where this type of cancer gets its name.

Even though mesothelioma is a form of cancer, it is unusual for it to spread to other parts of the body. If it does, it does not usually cause problems.

Mesothelioma - The Symptoms

In its early stages, mesothelioma does not have many symptoms.

When symptoms do develop, they are often caused by the cancer growing and pressing on either a nerve or another body organ.

There are two main types of mesothelioma and the symptoms differ. There are two main types of this form of cancer:

Pleural mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma

The pleural type grows in the tissues covering the lungs. The peritoneal type grows in the tissue lining the inside of the abdomen. Pleural mesothelioma is much more common than peritoneal mesothelioma.

Between 7 and 8 out of 10 (70-80%) of cases of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common.

The typical symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are pain in the lower back, pain in the side of the chest, a persistent cough, shortness of breath, a hoarse or husky voice, noticeably losing weight when not dieting, sweating, fevers and difficulty swallowing.

The typical symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include pain in the abdomen, swelling in the abdomen, feeling or being sick, poor appetite, noticeably losing weight when not dieting and diarrhoea or constipation.

These symptoms are all more likely to be caused by some other illness, rather than by mesothelioma. However, if you have these symptoms, consult your doctor, especially if you have been exposed to asbestos in the past.

How does Asbestos Cause Mesothelioma?

Asbestos is made up of tiny fibres. You can breathe these fibres in when you come into contact with asbestos, particularly when these fibres are airborne. The fibres work their way into the pleura, the lining of the lung. They irritate the pleura and damage the cells that the pleura are made of. This promotes the growth of cancerous cells.

Some of the fibres that have been breathed in can be coughed up and swallowed. This is probably one of the causes of peritoneal mesothelioma. Most cases of mesothelioma occur in men who have worked in manufacturing using asbestos or used asbestos based products, particularly in construction or engineering.

The use of asbestos was very heavy in the years after the war (Post 1945). Mesothelioma may not develop until 15 - 40 years after you have been exposed to asbestos, which is why we are seeing an increase in cases now. The number of cases is expected to peak around 2018 and then start to decline.

There are three types of asbestos: blue, brown and white. Blue and brown asbestos are linked with mesothelioma. They have been banned since the late 1980's and cannot be imported into the UK. White asbestos is now also thought to be harmful. The use of all asbestos was banned in 1999 in the UK.

I hope you find this article useful. I have created it to be used as a free resource to educate others about the dangers of asbestos, and the reality of asbestosis and mesothelioma. I researched these illnesses during a university case study. I work in the construction industry and have already encountered asbestos in various boiler houses and heat intensive environments. I can only hope there were no airborne particles.

More information of this nature is available at http://www.asbestosis-symptoms.com