Asbestosis - Symptoms causes and treatment of asbestos - wajadda

Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease due to exposure to asbestos or asbestos fibers for a long time. Asbestos is a type of mineral that is usually used by several people for the installation of floors or roofs of buildings. Asbestos is a silicate mineral produced from mining / natural materials. Asbestos was originally also referred to as Magic Mineral because of its heat-resistant properties, both as electrical insulation, resistant to various chemicals and oils.

Asbestos illustration from kaskus.co.id

 

Asbestos which is still in good condition is not harmful to human health. However, when an abscess is damaged, the material can remove fine dust containing asbestos fibers. Dust containing asbestos fibers is susceptible to human inhalation. As a result, the lungs that suck in asbestos fibers can experience gradual damage. This condition inhibits breathing and absorption of oxygen in the bloodstream.

Asbestosis

Symptoms of Asbestosis

Symptoms of asbestosis usually only appear years after asbestos exposure occurs continuously. The following are a number of signs of asbestosis:

• Chest or shoulder pain.
• Dry cough.
• In severe circumstances, the fingernails become round, widened, or enlarged (clubbing).
• Decreased appetite followed by weight loss.
• Shortness of breath or tightness.
• Severe fatigue.
• Loud breath (wheezing).

Causes of Asbestosis

Asbestosis was experienced by many workers in the industrial sector, especially in the 1970s and 1990s. Examples of professions that are at risk of asbestosis include mining workers, electrical or building installations, mechanics, technicians and rail installation technicians.

Asbestosis occurs after a person inhales dust containing asbestos fibers for a long time. Dust with asbestos fibers is trapped in the alveoli (air bag in the lungs) and form scar tissue so that the lungs become stiff. Stiff lung tissue makes the organ unable to expand and deflate normally. As a result, sufferers become difficult to breathe. This condition can be more severe if the patient is used to smoking.

Diagnosis of Asbestosis

When a person is suspected of having asbestosis from the symptoms they experience, the doctor will begin a physical examination, especially to see lung function. Scanning through chest X-rays is important. For patients with asbestosis, the lung tissue will look like a wasp nest or there is a large white area.

Another check that can be done is a pulmonary function test with the help of a device called a spirometer. This examination aims to measure the work of the lung organs in breathing, accommodating or exhaling air. In addition, this test can also be used to measure the amount of oxygen that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Another test that might also be used to ensure the occurrence of asbestosis is CT scan. This scan can complement the results of a chest X-ray photo examination to see the lung condition more clearly.

Meanwhile, to see the presence of asbestos fibers in the lung tissue, doctors can perform a pulmonary biopsy.

Asbestosis treatment

Asbestos removal, Asbestosis cannot be cured completely, but symptoms can be alleviated and the severity of the disease can be suppressed. Treatment can show good results if it is supported by efforts to stop smoking or avoid cigarette smoke. In addition to causing emphysema, cigarette smoke can reduce the volume of air in the lungs. Asbestosis patients will also usually be advised to receive vaccinations, especially flu and pneumonia vaccinations, in order to reduce the risk of lung infections.

One of the asbestosis treatments is through therapy, for example oxygen therapy. This therapy aims to improve the patient's breathing, especially if the blood oxygen level is very low. Oxygen therapy is carried out by machines or oxygen tubes who can carry oxygen through a hose that is placed Another type of therapy that might be recommended is pulmonary rehabilitation. This therapy includes exercises, discussions, and medical advice that can be applied to reduce the symptoms of asbestosis.

During the treatment period, periodic checks are still necessary. These tests include pulmonary function tests and chest scans. Distance of examination time depends on the severity of asbestosis.

If the severity of the symptoms of asbestosis is very severe and cannot be treated with the above treatment methods, then the patient is likely to be recommended for lung transplant surgery.

Asbestosis complications

Complications that can be caused by asbestosis include:

• Lung cancer.
• Mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the lungs, heart, stomach, or testicles).
• Pleural thickening, which is the layer that covers the lungs.

Asbestosis prevention

Reducing asbestos exposure is the best prevention. Workers who use asbestos materials must use personal protective equipment when exposed to asbestos.
 

Most houses built before 1970 use asbestos-containing materials such as floors and pipes. No need to worry as long as the material is not damaged, because no asbestos fibers are released into the air.

If you are a worker who has been exposed to asbestos for more than 10 years, you should consult your doctor for chest X-rays and routine checks every three to five years.

Reviewed by: dr. Marianti

                     cr: Alodokter.com
tags: Asbestos, Asbestos removal, Asbestosis, Asbestos Treatment.

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