What Happens if You Get Asbestos in Your Lungs?
Until the 1980's, manufacturers used asbestos, a lightweight, malleable mineral, in everything from construction materials to clothing for decades. The mineral is known for its heat resistance, so manufacturers incorporated it into roofing tiles, insulation, flooring, brake linings, and fire-retardant clothing. But now we know that asbestos causes several deadly health conditions, including lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Asbestos in the Lungs
When materials containing asbestos break down, tiny particles of lightweight asbestos can then end up in the air or water where they can be inhaled or ingested by people nearby. When inhaled, asbestos fibers lodge in the lungs, larynx, or lining of the lungs and abdomen. These fibers irritate lung tissues, causing scar tissue known as pulmonary fibrosis to form. When scar tissue forms, lung tissue stiffens, delivering less oxygen to the bloodstream. This can cause shortness of breath and coughing. Over time, this can cause chronic breathing difficulties. If asbestos lodges in other areas, such as the lining of the lungs or abdomen, it can lead to mesothelioma, a form of cancer.
Medical Conditions Caused by Asbestos
Some chronic medical conditions caused by asbestos exposure include:
- Asbestosis: Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos fibers.
- Mesothelioma: Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining that covers most of your internal organs. Asbestos exposure can also cause mesothelioma.
- Lung cancer: Lung cancer can be caused by many things, including smoking, exposure to toxic chemicals, and genetics. But asbestos exposure can also lead to lung cancer.
- Ovarian cancer: When asbestos contaminates talc used in talcum powder for many personal hygiene products, it can enter the body and lodge in the ovaries and nearby organs, causing cancer.
- Larynx Cancer: Inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers can lead to larynx or voice box cancer.
You Need an Experienced Attorney
You may be entitled to compensation if you face mesothelioma or another chronic condition related to asbestos exposure. At the Madeksho Law Firm, we’ve been helping people like you get the compensation they deserve for years. Call us at 1-888-910-6376 or contact the firm online. Your initial consultation is free, and you won’t pay a fee unless we recover money on your behalf.
