Asbestosis
Overview
Asbestosis is a rare but serious lung condition that affects people exposed to asbestos(a building material usedfrom the 1950s to the 1990s).It cannot be cured, buttreatment may improve the symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms of asbestosis include: shortness of breathpersistent coughwheezingextreme tiredness (fatigue)pain in your chest or shoulderin more advanced cases, clubbed (swollen) fingertips It can take 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos before symptoms appear. There are sometimes no symptoms.
Causes
Asbestosis is caused by exposure to asbestos. You may have been exposed to asbestos if you worked in an industry such as building or construction, particularly from the 1950s to the 1990s. You could be exposed to asbestos today if your job involves working in certain roles in old buildings. Examples include: heating and ventilation engineersdemolition workersplumbersconstruction workerselectricians
Treatment
There's no cure for asbestosis once it has developed, as it's not possible to reverse the damage to the lungs. But some treatments can help, including: pulmonary rehabilitation – a programme of exercises and education to help manage your symptomsoxygen therapy– breathing in oxygen-rich air from a machine or tank to help improve breathlessness if your blood oxygen levels are lowusing an inhaler to ease breathing (if your symptoms are mild)