Many years ago, health officials realized that it was causing problems, and since then wide-scale removal has been underway. Unfortunately, many buildings still have it lurking around.
If you're worried about the risk, call an asbestos removal specialist today. For new homeowners, there is a chance that it'll be present in your new home. For businesses and industry, it's essential to get your workplace checked out by a specialist. The health risks are too serious to ignore.
Asbestosis
The most common ailment related to the material is asbestosis. This condition is caused by continuous exposure to fibers in the air. It causes scarring of the lungs and breathing problems. The symptoms include shortness of breath, dry cough, chest pain or tightness in the chest.
Visit the doctor and have them check you out. They'll do x-rays and listen for a crackling sound in your chest. These will be dead giveaways that you're suffering from asbestosis.
Mesothelioma
This is a cancer of the mesothelium, the membrane that covers your organs. This membrane covers all the organs in the body and makes a fluid that allows them to move easily. For example, your heart moves as it beats, and it needs this membrane to be healthy and flexible for it.
With mesothelioma, the cells of the membrane become abnormal and begin dividing. This is a rare condition that is only caused by exposure to asbestos. It is especially deadly because symptoms may not appear until well after it is quite advanced. There is no known cure, but drug therapy and chemotherapy can help relieve suffering.
Lung Cancer
The lung cancer caused by exposure to these fibers resembles the lung cancer some smokers get. If you smoke and also contract lung cancer from exposure, it compounds the problem. It is caused by fibers getting lodged in the lungs. Unlike smokers' lung cancer, it usually starts in the lining of the bronchi, or the tubes where the windpipe and trachea split. In most cases, it causes malignant tumors which can spread to other parts of the body.
These conditions are deadly and completely preventable. The answer is asbestos removal. Asbestos removal gets rid of these fibers and the risk they cause of damaging your body. Mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer are all conditions whose symptoms only appear after many years of gestating in the body. For this reason, it's never too soon to get the work done.
The first stage of your asbestos removal involves a specialist coming to your house or place of work, checking the level of danger, and discussing with you the best way to get it under control. Most public buildings have already had it removed, but there are still places where asbestos removal is absolutely essential for health and safety.
