You might have heard the word asbestos in TV shows, news programs, or maybe read it from magazines and books.There are many scientific studies proving the relationship between exposures to asbestos linked to some health hazards like Mesothelioma.Asbestos is composed of 6 minerals which are amosite, actinolite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite and anthophyllite.Asbestos is a very useful type of material especially for industrial purposes however it is a known human carcinogen.It is famous for its strength, high resistance to fire, resistance to chemical andelectrical damage and it is also affordable but when inhaled it can cause asbestos related diseases.Asbestos, once inhaled, causes scarring of the lining of the lungs which consequently restricts an individual's ability to breath.There are still some products that we are using right now that may have asbestos content without us knowing.Some of these products are tiles, cement, vinyl walls or flooring, hair dryer, popcorn poppers, fertilizers, fire blankets, gloves and many more.But do you know that prolong exposure to asbestos may lead to a serious illness called Mesothelioma?Mesothelioma is a type of cancer affecting the lining of the organs of the body including the lungs (Pleural Mesothalemia).It is a fatal condition and the prognosis is also not good.People who acquired this illness are those who have been long exposed to asbestos fibers.Common signs and symptoms of the disease are coughing, chest pain, and difficulty in breathing, wheezing and sudden weight loss.These indications, in some cases, usually do not occur even after 20 or more years of prolong exposure to asbestos dust.There are some medical diagnostic exams to confirm mesothelioma such as biopsy.It is true that the longer you are exposed to asbestos, the more likely you will have mesothelioma.However, there were some reports showing that even those who have been exposed to abestos in just a short while have developed cancer.The rate of Mesothelioma is higher to those who have served the US Armed Forces years ago.This is because they have used abestos for a lot of military tools and equipment long before they have realized its bad effects.Treatments for Mesothelioma include radiation and/or chemotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy.The earlier you detect the presence of the cancer cells, the better the prognosis is.So if you happen to experience any of the given indicators and you have been exposed to asbestos, consult with your doctor immediately.Diagnostic tests will be done immediately and if Mesothalioma is detected, treatment can start immediately.It is said that prevention is better than cure and it is actually true.Avoid exposing yourself to asbestos or going to places where there is higher percentage of asbestos usage.Your immune system also plays a greater part in fighting off diseases so take good care of it.Eat healthy and exercise regularly.
Does Asbestos Kill? Explaining the Link Between Mesothelioma and Asbestos
About 2,000 new cases of Mesothelioma are diagnosed in the United States each year.This numbers of cases are growing at exponential sizes because of the big Asbestos exposure that the citizens have in our days.Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos.With the cases growing exponential the requirements of trustful information are huge.This rare form of cancer (malignancy) that most frequently arises from the cells lining the sacs of the chest (the pleura) or the abdomen (the peritoneum).Mesothelioma that affects the pleura can cause these signs and symptoms.chest wall painpleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung shortness of breath fatigue or anemia wheezing, hoarseness, or cough blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up.The disease is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated.The development of the cancer in rats has been demonstrated following intra-pleural inoculation of phosphorylated chrysotile fibres.The disease occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age is not contagious and cannot be passed from one person to another.Symptoms include weight loss and cachexia, abdominal swelling and pain due to ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity).Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever.Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they breathed asbestos.Others have been exposed to asbestos in a household environment, often without knowing it.An exposure of as little as one or two months can result in mesothelioma 30 or 40 years later.People exposed in the 1940s, 50s, 60s, and 70s are now being diagnosed with the disease because of the long latency period of asbestos disease.Since epidemiologic studies have shown that more that 80% of mesotheliomas may be associated with asbestos exposure, documented cases in a worker with occupational exposure to asbestos may be compensable in many parts of America.In contrast to lung cancers, these tumors don not appear to be associated with smoking.Relatively short-term asbestos exposures of 1to 2 years or less occurring some 20 to 25 years in the past have been associated with the development of mesotheliomas (an observation that emphasizes the importance of obtaining a complete environmental exposure history).Some Statistics say's that the risk for this type of tumor peaks 30 to 35 years after initial exposure.Since maximum exposure took place in the United States between 1930 and 1960, peak incidence of disease in men occurred in 1997, with a total of 2300 cases.Incidence is expected to decline over the next 30 years to about 500 cases per year.However with the terrorist attacks of 2001 in New York and Washington, hundreds of people were exposed to asbestos, when the buildings collapsed and the asbestos dust was were expanded in the environment.With this in mind the real cases can increase in the next years.The information it's an important active.To be informed about mesothelioma and other cancer related topics could be useful in terms of prevention.Be an active reader, it's a great investment to your health.
Studies show that there is an increase of cancer instances among workers exposed to asbestos.In lieu to this, asbestos lung cancer has become one of the most dreaded types of cancer.The causes of lung cancer vary.Aside from exposure to asbestos, smoking and air pollution can trigger the onset of the disease.Therefore, avoiding these possible cancer-causing agents is essential for healthy lungs.Asbestos is a group of minerals that are found naturally in the environment.These are featured as bundles of fibers that can be separated into durable and thin threads.These so-called fibers are resistant to fire, heat and chemicals.They don't conduct electricity.For these reasons, many industries use asbestos.Chemically, asbestos minerals are silicate compounds.They contain atoms of oxygen and silicon in their molecular structure.Asbestos are used in building and construction industries to strengthen cement and plastics; for insulation, sound absorption, fireproofing and roofing.The shipbuilding industry also uses asbestos to insulate steam pipes, boilers and hot water pipes.These are also used in vehicle clutch pads and brake shoes.They are in paints, coatings and floor and ceiling tiles.Furthermore, asbestos has been found in some talc-containing crayons and vermiculite-containing garden products.For these reasons, there is no guarantee that anyone is safe from developing asbestos lung cancer.With the wide use of asbestos, almost everybody can be exposed to its adverse effects.The most popular of which is cancer of the lung.Like any other form of cancers, the causes of this type can disrupt the balance on cell growth in the lungs - resulting to an uncontrolled division and proliferation of cells.Eventually, this will form a mass known as tumors.Lung cancers are very life-threatening.In fact, they're one of the most difficult diseases to treat.People with this condition don't know they have it because the symptoms are often mistaken as that of tuberculosis ad other types respiratory tract infections.Some of the early symptoms of asbestos lung cancer include weight loss, chest pain, a persistent cough, chest pain, hoarseness and bloody or rust-colored sputum (spit or phlegm).While the principal function of the lungs is to exchange gases between our blood and the air we breathe, the lungs are also responsible for the carbon dioxide to get out from the blood and for the oxygen to enter the bloodstream.Since asbestos fibers can stay for a long while in the lung tissue after an exposure to asbestos, people who have developed asbestos lung cancer have slim chances of surviving it.The workplace is the most popular source of asbestos exposure since asbestos is used in insulations.Smokers and non-smokers exposed to asbestos are most likely to develop lung cancers than those who are not.For doctors to diagnose the onset of the disease, a full physical examination is warranted.Your doctor may also take a sample of your phlegm (spit).This will be examined under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present.To avoid cancer, you can start with a healthy diet.Eat citrus foods, green leafy vegetables, fresh garlic and omega-3 fatty foods such as fish, walnuts and winter squash.Avoid smoking and inhaling harsh chemicals that can harm the lungs like asbestos.