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Jumat, 26 Agustus 2011

How Asbestos Affects The Body


Asbestos is a mineral that has been widely used in the prevention of construction, insulation and fire due to its durability and fire resistance. However, a few decades alarming medical reports were released, indicating a strong link between asbestos exposure and various lung diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Read on to learn how asbestos affects the body, discovering the main symptoms of asbestos, and examine some of the treatments for asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestosis

September, asbestos is an excellent insulator, and the property is located in the physical structure of asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers are composed of millions of microscopic molecules that are short and very thin. While these features make the asbestos is very resistant, but it also means that asbestos may be in the air and inhaled by people. Once in the lungs, asbestos fibers can be recorded within the lungs or the lining of the lungs.

If asbestos fibers remain in the lungs, often causing a variety of changes, one of which is the disease of asbestosis. This condition determines the development of scar tissue in the lungs and the membranes surrounding the lungs. As a result, breathing becomes difficult, and the body is deprived of oxygen. The main symptoms of asbestosis include shortness of breath, coughing and a general pain in the chest.

Lung Cancer

Asbestos exposure has also been associated with the occurrence of lung cancer. This disease causes the growth of malignant tumors in the lungs. If lung cancer is not diagnosed early, it can spread (metastasize) to the surrounding organs, eventually leading to death. However, if lung cancer is detected early, several treatments may be given to decrease or stop the growth of cancer cells. Often the most effective therapeutic approaches combining chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgical removal of cancer cells.

Pleural Mesothelioma

The most serious condition caused by exposure to asbestos is cancer of the pleural mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, mesothelioma cancer affects the membrane surrounding the lungs. Sometimes the mesothelioma cancer also develop in the lining of the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma) or the lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma cancer). Unfortunately, mesothelioma often has no symptoms until it has reached an advanced stage. Therefore, the majority of mesothelioma victims succumb to this state within one year after diagnosis. There are new treatments being developed to extend the life of mesothelioma patients and ultimately find a cure for this debilitating disease.


 







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