The main symptom of asbestosis is shortness of breath with physical exertion. You also may have a dry cough and feel tired. If your doctor listens to your lungs with a stethoscope, he or she may hear a crackling sound when you breathe in.
Chronic exposure to asbestos may increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma, and nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders. Evidence in humans comes from epidemiologic studies as well as numerous studies of workers exposed to asbestos in a variety of occupational settings. 1 Health effects from asbestos exposure may continue to progress even after exposure is stopped. 2  Smoking or cigarette smoke, together with exposure to asbestos, greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer. 3  See Cigarette Smoking, Asbestos Exposure, and your Health. 1 All forms of asbestos increase the risk of lung disease. 2  The three types of asbestos-related lung disease are scarring (asbestosis), non-cancerous disease of the tissue of the lining of the surface of the lung (pleural disease), and lung cancer (of the lungs or their outer lining tissue [ mesothelioma ]). 1 Smoking appears to increase the frequency and/or the rate of progression of asbestosis. 2  Diagnosis of asbestosis or asbestos-related lung diseases and cancer is often made using chest X-rays or CT scans of the lungs. 1 Asbestosis, an inflammatory condition of lungs that can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and eventually scarring of the lungs that makes it hard to breathe. 2  Mesothelioma, a rare cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, chest cavity, or abdomen. 3  Lung cancer.  Asbestos-related diseases include non-malignant disorders such as asbestosis (pulmonary fibrosis due to asbestos), diffuse pleural thickening, pleural plaques, pleural effusion, rounded atelectasis and malignancies such as lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma.  Asbestos-related lung diseases are diseases caused by exposure to asbestos (as-BES-tos) fibers. Asbestos is a mineral that, in the past, was widely used in many industries. Asbestos is made up of tiny fibers that can escape into the air. When breathed in, these fibers can stay in your lungs for a long time. Figure A shows the location of the lungs, airways, pleura, and diaphragm in the body. Figure B shows lungs with asbestos-related diseases, including pleural plaque, lung cancer, asbestosis, plaque on the diaphragm, and mesothelioma. The signs and symptoms of asbestos-related lung diseases vary. They depend on which disease you have and how much it has damaged your lungs. Signs and symptoms may not appear for 10 to 40 or more years after exposure to asbestos. If you have pleural plaque, you may not have any signs or symptoms. Pleural effusion may cause pain on one side of the chest. Both conditions often are found with a chest x ray. These conditions may occur earlier than other asbestos-related lung diseases. The main symptom of asbestosis is shortness of breath with physical exertion. You also may have a dry cough and feel tired. If your doctor listens to your lungs with a stethoscope, he or she may hear a crackling sound when you breathe in. 1 Diagnosis of asbestosis or asbestos-related lung diseases and cancer is often made using chest X-rays or CT scans of the lungs. 2  Treatment of asbestos-related diseases includes appropriate vaccinations, treatment of lung infections, smoking cessation, and the use of oxygen if necessary. 1 Smoking appears to increase the frequency and/or the rate of progression of asbestosis. 2  1 The three types of asbestos-related lung disease are scarring (asbestosis), non-cancerous disease of the tissue of the lining of the surface of the lung (pleural disease), and lung cancer (of the lungs or their outer lining tissue [ mesothelioma ]). 1 Smoking appears to increase the frequency and/or the rate of progression of asbestosis. 2  Diagnosis of asbestosis or asbestos-related lung diseases and cancer is often made using chest X-rays or CT scans of the lungs. Significant exposure to any type of asbestos will increase the risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma and nonmalignant lung and pleural disorders, including asbestosis, pleural plaques, pleural thickening, and pleural effusions. 1 Health effects from asbestos exposure may continue to progress even after exposure is stopped. 2  Smoking or cigarette smoke, together with exposure to asbestos, greatly increases the likelihood of lung cancer. 3  See Cigarette Smoking, Asbestos Exposure, and your Health. Most people do not show any signs or symptoms of asbestos-related disease for 10 to 20 years or more after exposure. The most common asbestos-related illnesses are lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis: Lung cancer • Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that invades and obstructs the lung’s air passages. Cigarette smoking greatly increases the likelihood of a person developing lung cancer as the result of asbestos exposure. Living With Asbestos-Related Illness—A Self-Care Guide a physician for advice. Most cases of lung cancer in workers occurred 15 years or more after the person was first exposed to asbestos. Mesothelioma • Mesothelioma is a very rare cancer of the lining of the chest or abdomen.
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/asbestos/health_effects/ http://www.medicinenet.com/asbestos-related_disorders/article.htm http://www.webmd.com/lung/asbestos-exposure https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbestos-related_diseases http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asb/ http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/asb/signs http://www.medicinenet.com/asbestos-related_disorders/article.htm http://www.medicinenet.com/asbestos-related_disorders/article.htm http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/asbestos/health_effects/ http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/site-kit/docs/LivingwithAsbestosFINAL5_4_07.pdf
symptoms of asbestos related illness