| Asbestos exposure results from breathing in asbestos | | | | development of difficulty in breathing with exertion or |
| fibers. If rocks, soil, or products containing asbestos are | | | | sometimes at rest if the degree of lung dysfunction is |
| disturbed, they can release asbestos fibers into the air. | | | | severe. |
| These fibers can be breathed into your lungs and | | | | Cancerous diseases |
| could remain there for a lifetime. Most people don't | | | | Lung cancer |
| show any signs or symptoms of asbestos-related | | | | This is cancer of the lungs and lung passages. |
| disease for 10 to 20 years or more after exposure. | | | | Cigarette smoking combined with asbestos exposure |
| When symptoms do appear, they can be similar to | | | | greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer. Lung |
| those of other diseases. Asbestos-related diseases | | | | cancer caused by smoking or asbestos looks the |
| can be divided into 1}cancerous and 2}non cancerous | | | | same. Symptoms for lung cancer can vary. Some late |
| diseases: | | | | stage symptoms can include chronic cough, chest pain, |
| Non-cancerous diseases | | | | unexplained weight loss, and coughing up blood. |
| Asbestosis | | | | Mesothelioma |
| This disease is characterized by scarring of the lungs. | | | | This is a rare cancer mostly associated with asbestos |
| It is commonly occurs as result of exposure to high | | | | exposure. It affects the lining of the lungs and |
| levels of asbestos over a long period of time, as seen | | | | sometimes the lining of the abdomen. Occasionally it |
| in work-related asbestos exposure. Smoking increases | | | | affects the lining of the heart and the lining of the testis. |
| the risk of developing asbestosis. Initially there are no | | | | Symptoms include chest pain, persistent shortness of |
| symptoms but latter some symptoms which show up | | | | breath, and unexplained weight loss, abdominal swelling |
| include difficulty in breathing, chronic cough and chest | | | | and abdominal pain in case of abdominal mesothelioma. |
| pain. | | | | Other less common symptoms include haemoptysis |
| Pleural changes or pleural plaques | | | | {coughing up of blood} and excessive sweating. |
| This disease is characterized by thickening and | | | | These asbestos-related disease can be serious, |
| hardening of the pleura (the pleura is the lining that | | | | though not everyone exposed to asbestos gets health |
| covers the lungs and chest cavity). Most time the | | | | problems. These diseases range form those that are |
| disease is asymptomatic {the people will have no | | | | mild and manageable to those that are very |
| symptoms}, but sometimes the affected victims may | | | | dangerous and very difficult to manage, leading |
| have decreased lung function. This might lead to the | | | | ultimately to death. |