Over the years, regulations have improved to help prevent the average homeowner or their family from being exposed to asbestos. We know more about asbestos now than ever before, which has reduced the number of household exposure cases.

However, even a one-time exposure to asbestos can lead to health problems later. Can asbestos cause sinus problems in addition to cancers like mesothelioma, or are the effects more limited to the lungs?

Today, learn more about the dangerous effects asbestos fibers have on the human body.

“The overall evidence suggests there is no safe level of asbestos exposure.”

Source: National Cancer Institute (NIH) 1

What Exactly is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a natural mineral. Due to its durability and neutral electrical conduction, asbestos has been used to create and build structures for thousands of years. Asbestos has been mixed with other substances to make them more durable, and it can even be woven into fabric since asbestos breaks down into tiny fibers.

However, these tiny fibers are also the root of asbestos’s danger for humans. When inhaled, these tiny asbestos fibers cause a lot of long-term damage to the body, often causing chronic illnesses.

Since the 1970s, government regulation has strictly increased the protections surrounding the use and function of asbestos in common use cases. Additionally, getting compensation for asbestos exposure is possible due to the severity of asbestosis, mesothelioma, and other related conditions.

Can Asbestos Cause Sinus Problems?

Asbestos is not known to cause short-term or acute effects. For example, a sore throat one day after asbestos exposure is not likely to be caused by that exposure. Instead, asbestos effects are long-term effects that typically occur after exposure.

Common sinus problems, such as a sinus infection or sinus pressure, are not likely to be caused by asbestos exposure. These problems are likely caused by a different irritant, the flu, or a common cold.

Some effects of asbestosis and other asbestos-caused diseases can cause conditions like shortness of breath or wheezing while breathing. Uninformed individuals may believe that this is rooted in the sinuses, but that is not true. Asbestos exposure primarily affects the lungs, the respiratory system, the digestive system, and the stomach.

“Some asbestos fibers may bypass…your body’s natural defenses…and lodge deep within your lungs. Those fibers can remain in place for a very long time and may never be removed.”

Source: American Lung Association

How Does Asbestos Exposure Cause Damage?

To better understand where and how asbestos damage is likely to affect the body, learn where asbestos goes when it is inhaled or swallowed. This can happen without people knowing, and the way asbestos lurks in the body is why people often don’t realize they’ve been exposed.

When Inhaled:

Inhaled asbestos fibers make their way into the lungs and other tissue as the air carrying the asbestos makes its way through the respiratory system. Asbestos fibers are tiny, highly durable, and are not destroyed by the body. Instead, they become embedded in tissue.

Embedded asbestos causes damage to the tissue; the fibers cause tiny rips and tears in the lungs and surrounding tissues. Scar tissue builds up as a result of this damage, and that eventually leads to a variety of chronic illnesses such as asbestosis. Difficulty breathing, coughing, and reduced lung capacity are all common symptoms of exposure.

Additionally, asbestos exposure is known to cause other cancers, including mesothelioma.

When Swallowed:

Just as inhaling asbestos is dangerous, swallowing asbestos is also very dangerous. 

The asbestos fibers can become lodged in different parts of the digestive system, causing permanent tissue damage. Over time, the fibers can lead to stomach and colon cancer that is often fatal for victims of asbestos exposure.

What are the Signs of Asbestos Exposure?

There are no signs of asbestos exposure that can be identified immediately after exposure. 

Even if someone has a chest x-ray or is tested for exposure to asbestos with a thorough exam after being around asbestos, there will not be any clear signs of that exposure.

The first symptoms of asbestos exposure are typically the symptoms of diseases caused by that exposure. Until a disease begins to show signs of developing, there isn’t a way to determine or check for asbestos exposure.

In the lungs, asbestos exposure eventually shows up as:

  • Breathing difficulty, shortness of breath
  • Dry coughing
  • Wheezing
  • Chest pain
  • Chest tightness
  • Respiratory pain or conditions
  • Pleural plaques
  • Pleural thickening or effusion
  • Asbestosis

In other parts of the body, asbestos exposure can show up as:

  • Weight loss
  • Hernia development
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Pelvic pains
  • Abdominal pain or swelling
  • Problems swallowing
  • Clubbed fingers or toes

Final Thoughts

The complications caused by asbestos exposure are incredibly damaging to the body and can even be fatal. Prevention is by far the best method of avoiding asbestos-related conditions because there is no way to detect exposure early. It’s key for all regulations and protections to be followed because that is how people stay protected.

AsbestosClaims.Law

AsbestosClaims.law is your comprehensive resource for all things asbestos. We hope this information is helpful.

If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, check out our website and YouTube page for videos, infographics and answers to your questions about asbestos, including health and safety, asbestos testing, removing asbestos from your home and building, and legal information.

And if you believe that you were exposed to asbestos, or have been diagnosed with an asbestos illness, you could be entitled to significant compensation—money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being. 

All without filing a lawsuit.

If you’d like help with filing a claim, please get in touch by email at [email protected], or call or text us at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) or (206) 455-9190. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options. And we never charge for anything unless you receive money in your pocket.

1 National Cancer Institute (NIH), Asbestos Fact Sheet.