Understanding asbestosis: Causes, symptoms and diagnosis

What is asbestosis and how is it caused?

Asbestosis is a chronic lung condition that is caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibres. These fibres continually irritate the lungs over time and cause scarring in the lungs, called fibrosis. Fibrosis stiffens the lungs and can make it harder to breathe.

As symptoms can take up to 20-30 years to show themselves, most people are not diagnosed with asbestosis until later in life. If a person is exposed to asbestos when working and then later is diagnosed with asbestosis, that employer could be liable.

Employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe workplace and ensure employees are protected from known hazards. This means that you should be made aware of any potential exposure risks, provided with the correct protective equipment, and be properly trained on what to do when working with/around asbestos. This duty of care means that if you are exposed to asbestos when working and later get ill, your employer is legally responsible.

Is asbestosis a type of cancer?

While asbestosis is not a cancer, the same asbestos exposure that causes asbestosis can cause cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These are different conditions with different treatment options.

It is also important to note that cancer has been found to develop in some cases of advanced stages of asbestosis, in which the cells in lung scarring become cancerous.

What are the first symptoms of asbestosis?

In the early stages, it can be difficult to identify and diagnose asbestosis. This is because the symptoms of asbestosis are similar to symptoms of other asbestos related conditions and have different levels of severity. The symptoms of asbestosis include:

• shortness of breath
• wheezing
• a persistent cough
• extreme tiredness or fatigue
• pain in your chest or shoulders

In more advanced stages of asbestosis, symptoms can become more severe causing:

• long-term oxygen deficiency (causing clubbing of the fingertips)
• heart failure
• respiratory failure

If you think you have been exposed to asbestos and are experiencing any of these symptoms it is vital you seek medical advice. Any condition caused by asbestos is dangerous and the earlier these diseases are diagnosed and treated, the more manageable symptoms will be. Do not hesitate to contact you GP to discuss any symptoms you may be having.

How do medical professionals test for asbestosis?

When testing for asbestosis, doctors will use three main methods; taking a detailed medical and occupational history, physical exams, and imaging tests.

Doctors will initially examine your breathing and listen to your lungs to try and hear any anomalies such as crackling sounds when you breathe in. Following this they might use scans such as X-rays or CT scans. This will provide an image of your lungs that allows medical professionals to identify any potential issues, such as physical signs of scarring, that could be causing your symptoms.

You may be asked to complete physical tests to test your lung capacity, and you will be asked about your work history. Based on your occupational history, doctors can determine where you may have been exposed to asbestos.

Are there any treatments for asbestosis?

There is no complete cure for asbestosis, however, there are many treatments to help combat the symptoms of the disease. These treatments can mean those who suffer are not in as much pain and can have a life less limited by their symptoms. Treatments can include:

• Pulmonary rehabilitation: this involves guided exercise and breathing techniques to help patients manage breathlessness and improve endurance.
• Oxygen therapy: If blood oxygen levels are low, supplemental oxygen from a portable or home-based concentrator can be prescribed to help with breathing.
• Anti-fibrotic medications: Designed to slow or prevent the progression of fibrosis, which is the excessive formation of scar tissue in organs due to inflammation.
• Inhalers: For milder symptoms, inhalers help ease breathing difficulties.
• Antibiotics: Individuals with asbestosis are more susceptible to chest infections, so antibiotics are used to treat bacterial infections.
• Pain relief: Low-dose morphine and sedatives can sometimes be prescribed to manage distressing symptoms like coughing and severe breathlessness.
• Lung transplant: Considered in the most severe cases, however, patients must be otherwise in good health to be eligible.
• Fluid drainage: A procedure to drain fluid from the lungs in more advanced stages of asbestosis.

Treatments for asbestosis are most effective when the disease is caught early and is continuously monitored with regular check-ups. If you are worried that you might have asbestosis and require treatment, it is vital that you raise these concerns to your doctor.

How quickly does asbestosis progress?

Asbestosis may not show symptoms for many years, and symptoms can look different for everyone. Generally, symptoms can take up to 20-30 years to appear, but it can range from 10 to 40 years or more after initial exposure. Further to this, the progression of asbestosis is slow and gradual in most cases, but in some cases a person may experience a more rapid progression and the cause of this remains unclear.

What is the life expectancy of someone with asbestosis?

There is no exact life expectancy for everyone diagnosed with asbestosis. This is because the disease affects everyone differently. Your doctor will be able to offer a slightly more specific insight but in general, the expectancy for someone with asbestosis is between 10 and 20 years after diagnosis.

What can I do if I’ve been diagnosed with asbestosis?

A diagnosis of asbestosis can be incredibly difficult on the whole family, so it is important to know where you can turn for support. Government benefits are available for those who are suffering from asbestos related diseases. If your asbestos related illness is a result of where you have worked before, you may be entitled to compensation.

Our expert team of industrial disease lawyers are here to help you get the justice you deserve. We are here to listen to you and help you receive the support you need, with your priorities becoming our priorities.

Call us today on 0330 041 5869 or contact us online.