Asbestosis symptoms
Asbestosis symptoms seldom develop less than 20 years after commencement of exposure to asbestos, and commonly after longer periods. The heavier the exposure has been, the earlier the disease may commence.
Symptoms of Asbestosis include:
- shortness of breath, especially when exercising
- coughing and severe and continuous wheezing
- chest pain, and
- a feeling of tightness in the chest
A chest physician can often detect a distinctive crackle in the lungs where asbestosis is present. The most prominent symptom if you are suffering from asbestosis is breathlessness. In the later stages of the disease, coughing can develop.
Asbestosis can damage the function of lungs so much that the condition progresses to respiratory failure. At this stage the oxygen supply to the body is so poor that you always feel breathless and have blue-tinged skin (cyanosis) even when at rest in bed.
As well as the common symptoms, a chest physician may also notice certain signs that point towards a diagnosis of asbestosis such as the clubbing of the fingers, where the finger ends become broader and the tip of the nail curves inwards.
If you have been exposed to asbestos and are feeling unwell you should contact your GP immediately.
How is asbestosis diagnosed?...
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