What to Do If One Became Exposed to Asbestos?

You can be exposed to asbestos in the workplace or by living with someone who works with asbestos and has been exposed. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), asbestos can cause health problems if inhaled because of the asbestos fibers that remain in the lungs. These embedded fibers can cause asbestosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma.

Diagnosis

• If you think you have been exposed to asbestos, see your doctor immediately, according to the ATSDR. Symptoms don’t show up for 10 to 20 years, so people who have been exposed to asbestos may think there is nothing wrong when there might be. Your doctor can detect something that can be treated.

  The doctor will complete a thorough medical history, including where you work and live. To make the diagnosis, the doctor will conduct a physical examination, take a chest X-ray and conduct a pulmonary-function test. You may then be referred to a specialist.

Treatment

• For non-cancerous diseases, such as asbestosis and pleural disease, treatment is focused on preventing further exposure and treating symptoms. By ceasing any more exposure to asbestos and by participating in respiratory therapies, these diseases can be stabilized; however, they can also become more severe. There is little chance they will improve, according to the ATSDR. Symptoms can be treated by respiratory therapy, which entails bronchial drainage (your lungs are drained by placing your head below your chest). Your doctor also may use an ultrasonic mist humidifier to help clear your lungs.

  For lung or chest-wall cancer, treatment can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of the three. For mesothelioma, recently developed chemotherapy drugs, including Alimta and Cisplatin, can be used in addition to conventional cancer treatment, according to Mesothelioma.com. Some mesothelioma patients opt for experimental treatments.

Precautions

• If you smoke, quit if you think you have been exposed to asbestos. According to the ATSDR, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure greatly increases the risk of lung cancer.

  Consider getting flu and pneumonia shots to reduce the risk of lung infections, and keep a breathing diary. When you have trouble breathing, note what you were doing when the trouble started. This may help you to figure out what triggers your breathing problems. Get a high-efficiency particulate-arresting (HEPA) air filter for your home to help improve indoor air quality.

  Conserve your energy. While exercise is good to increase heart and lung endurance, you need to balance that with plenty of sleep at night and taking rest periods throughout the day. Practice breathing exercises. Inhale slowly through your nose. Hold it and slowly exhale through your mouth. Repeat several times. In addition, breathe through your diaphragm. Lie down and place one hand on your chest and the other on your diaphragm. Inhale through your nose. The hand on your diaphragm should raise, not the hand on your chest.

  Take better care of yourself in general to help you breathe easier. Eating healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables, helps maintain muscle mass and helps your body function better.