Asbestos and Its Effects
A Health Care Article Contributed by Dahlia Falk
Asbestos and Its Effects
If you or someone you know has been exposed to asbestos in the past, it is extremely important to understand what asbestos is and the effects it can have on your health. Asbestos is responsible for a specific type of cancer as well as other health problems, so read on and understand what asbestos is and how exposure to asbestos may be harming you.
What is Asbestos?
Many people have heard about asbestos or have read about its potentially harmful effects, but may be unsure what exactly it is. Asbestos is the name for a group of extremely fibrous minerals with long and thin fibers that can be easily taken apart and separated. When you do separate the asbestos fibers, they become tough and flexible, and can be manipulated in a variety of ways.
Asbestos fibers can be spun or woven, and are used for numerous industrial purposes because they are both durable and heat resistant. This same durability and longevity that makes asbestos fibers an asset to industrial purposes also makes them harmful to humans. The two types of asbestos that exist are amphibole and chrysotile. Studies shoe that the amphibole fibers are more harmful to human exposure because they stay inside the human lungs for a longer period of time.
How Do People Become Exposed to Asbestos?
Now we know that asbestos is harmful, but you may be wondering how and if you yourself have been exposed to asbestos. Chances are, you probably have. You see, we are all exposed to very very small amounts of asbestos in the air which luckily are not known to be harmful. People who are exposed to asbestos and are in health risk, usually experience their exposure on the job.
The careers that tend to deal with asbestos exposure are plumbers, brake repair mechanics, carpenters, electricians, welders, miners, dry wall finishers, roofers, and shipyard workers. Individuals who work in such industries are often to exposed to a great deal of asbestos that may get inside their lungs and prove hazardous to their health. If you work in one of the above industries, it is a probably a good idea to consult with your physician.
Ask your doctor about the diseases that come about as a result of asbestos exposure, and how you can either manage or prevent this potentially dangerous condition.
What is a Common Effect of Asbestos Exposure?
The most common effect of prolonged exposure to asbestos is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer of the lungs wherein cells become abnormal and divide at a rapid and uncontrolled rate. These cancerous cells cause pain and difficulty in breathing, and may spread and attach to other parts of the human body such as the lymph noes, the walls of the chest, the lungs, and the abdominal organs.
Mesothelioma is treated with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation and can result in extreme sickness or death. If you feel as if you have been exposed to asbestos and are concerned for your own health and well-being, take action today and call your doctor.
