When your work building or your home have exposed you to asbestos, the damage may already be done. Many people do not even know they have encountered asbestos until decades after their initial exposure. When this is the case, you may come into contact with it repeatedly and have no idea about the damage that it’s doing to your body. If your work, home, or other source has exposed you to asbestos and you are suffering from the consequences, please contact a lawyer, like a personal injury lawyer from Wieand Law Firm, today to speak with them about the struggles you are going through. An attorney will want to help you get the compensation you deserve for exposure to this hazardous substance and for the suffering that it is causing you today.
What is asbestos?
For decades, experts have linked asbestos to a slew of health problems, and this hazardous substance was utilized by many different companies. Unfortunately, even short-term inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause lifelong damage, causing coughing and breathing problems.
Common Illnesses Associated with Asbestos
Because of how dangerous asbestos is, there are many common illnesses associated with it. Below, you will find a list of the different types of illnesses you can get from asbestos and what their common symptoms are.
- Asbestosis: Asbestosis is one of the most common diseases that comes from asbestos. This disease causes one’s lungs to become inflamed and irritated. When scar tissue forms over the damage that asbestos does to your lungs, it can begin to block the flow of oxygen and carbon dioxide. While there is no treatment or cure for asbestosis, the best thing you can do is get away from the source of the illness as soon as possible. Some of the most common symptoms of asbestosis are:
- Coughing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest discomfort
- Lung Cancer: When you are exposed to asbestos it can cause lung cancer. If you were exposed to asbestos for a longer period of time, your risk for developing lung cancer can go up significantly. As your lung cancer progresses, cells divide uncontrollably in your lungs which causes tumors to grow. The more tumors that grow, the harder it is for the person to breathe.
- Mesothelioma: Perhaps the most serious condition linked to exposure from asbestos is mesothelioma. This is a malignant form of cancer that grows in your body and begins attacking the linings of your abdomen, chest wall, and lungs, or a combination of the three. Common symptoms are:
- Fever
- Trouble swallowing
- Coughing up blood
- Chest, back, or abdominal pain
If you or a loved one are experiencing any of the conditions discussed above as a result of exposure to asbestos, you are not alone. A personal injury attorney would like to work with you to get you and your family the compensation you deserve when you have become a victim to asbestos. Contact a law office today to get started.