{"id":14548,"date":"2023-08-01T16:04:03","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T22:04:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/?post_type=blog&p=14548"},"modified":"2023-08-01T16:07:37","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T22:07:37","slug":"asbestos-related-diseases-what-to-tell-your-doctor","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.asbestosclaims.law\/es\/asbestos-blog\/enfermedades-relacionadas-con-el-asbesto-que-decirle-a-su-medico\/","title":{"rendered":"Asbestos Related Diseases: What to Tell Your Doctor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Asbestos exposure is associated with a wide range of serious respiratory conditions, up to and including cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the dangers of asbestos are well-known, most asbestos-related conditions have unusually long latency periods, presenting symptoms only after decades of dormancy<\/a>. For many Americans with a history of asbestos exposure<\/a>, the diagnosis of a serious, potentially life-threatening disease occurs late in life<\/a>, offering limited opportunity for efficient relief and an effective medical intervention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you believe that you were exposed to asbestos, even as a child, speak to a healthcare provider about tests and screening to help diagnose lung-scarring and screen for <\/strong>asbestos-related diseases<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Asbestos Exposure in Modern America <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Asbestos is a type of naturally-occurring mineral<\/a>. Asbestos deposits can be found across the country, from northern Maine to the Mexican border<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We know today that asbestos is an unusually potent carcinogen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, throughout much of American history, asbestos was considered a \u201cmiracle mineral<\/a>,\u201d prized for its strength and ability to withstand the elements. Resilient to fire, rust, and electricity, asbestos\u2019s innate properties afforded it seemingly unlimited potential. During and after the Industrial Revolution<\/a>, asbestos was used to meet unprecedented demand for inexpensive but durable housing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
By the end of the 1970s, asbestos could be found almost everywhere: in homes, office buildings, and even elementary schools<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cSome asbestos fibers may bypass\u2026your body\u2019s natural defenses\u2026and lodge deep within your lungs. Those fibers can remain in place for a very long time and may never be removed.\u201d<\/h3>\n                            
Source: American Lung Association\n<\/a><\/p>\n                        <\/td>\n                    <\/tr>\n                <\/tbody>\n            <\/table>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Understanding all the potential sources of asbestos exposure<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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While most Americans know that former asbestos workers now face the highest risk of developing asbestos-related health conditions, asbestos exposure occurs through a variety of routes. The most common types of asbestos exposure include, but are not limited to, the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Occupational Asbestos Exposure<\/a> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Occupational asbestos exposure, or primary asbestos exposure, is asbestos exposure that occurred within the workplace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, most asbestos-related diagnoses are reported among people who worked with or around asbestos. High-risk groups<\/a> include military veterans, factory employees, and construction workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cAll forms of asbestos are carcinogenic to humans.\u201d<\/span> 1 <\/sup><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Although reported rates of asbestos-related illnesses have begun declining, researchers believe that an estimated 1.3 million Americans are still exposed to asbestos in their workplaces<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Several health studies have shown that the spouses of asbestos workers<\/span> are at an elevated level of risk for asbestos illnesses like lung cancer.<\/span>2 <\/sup>3 <\/sup>4 <\/sup>5<\/sup><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Secondary Asbestos Exposure<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Secondary asbestos exposure, or take-home asbestos exposure, is asbestos exposure that occurs among people who never worked with asbestos. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Before the dangers of asbestos exposure became a matter of common knowledge, asbestos workers would often return home covered in asbestos dust and asbestos fiber. Since most of these workers did not know that asbestos was associated with serious medical conditions, they did not usually shower or remove their work clothes before returning home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Sharing a home or vehicle with someone wearing asbestos-tainted clothing puts you at risk of asbestos-related diseases.<\/span> 6 <\/sup><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Secondary asbestos exposure is still asbestos exposure.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
However, asbestos fiber\u2014which has a characteristic rough texture and jagged features\u2014could easily \u201cfollow\u201d workers home. It spread inside cars, onto furniture, and inside laundry machines. Over the course of days, months, and years, asbestos workers\u2019 entire families could be exposed to significant concentrations of carcinogenic asbestos fiber, placing entire households at-risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
People who worked in these industries prior the mid-1980s have a higher risk of developing <\/strong>asbestos-related diseases<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Construction<\/td>Factories<\/td>Foundries<\/td>Refineries<\/td>Shipyards<\/td>Mining \/ Milling<\/td><\/tr>
Demolition<\/td>Insulation<\/td>Steelworkers<\/td>Pipe Fitting<\/td>Shipbuilding<\/td>Mechanics<\/td><\/tr>
\"Image<\/td>\"Image<\/td>\"Image<\/td><\/tr>
Roofing<\/td>Textiles<\/td>Iron workers<\/td>Boilers<\/td>Firefighting<\/td>Brake Repair<\/td><\/tr>
Flooring<\/td>Cement<\/td>Electricians<\/td>Gasket Repair<\/td>Railroad<\/td>HVAC<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately so do their families.<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Environmental Asbestos Exposure<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Environmental asbestos exposure could occur if asbestos is present in water, soil, or air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Under most circumstances, naturally-occurring asbestos poses little\u2014if any\u2014risk to people living nearby. However, commercial activity can sometimes scatter aerosolized asbestos into the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some former \u201casbestos cities,\u201d like Libby, Montana<\/a>, have reported higher-than-average rates of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Asbestos has no taste or smell.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
You may not know you\u2019re breathing it.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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While many of these diagnoses can be attributed to occupational asbestos exposure or take-home asbestos exposure, the intensity of asbestos mining and milling operations in communities like Libby led to the formation of massive \u201casbestos clouds<\/a>,\u201d which injured people who had no direct connection with the local asbestos industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cGenerally, those who develop asbestos-related diseases show no signs of illness for a long time after exposure.\u201d<\/h3>\n                            
Source: National Cancer Institute\n<\/a> (NIH)7<\/sup><\/p>\n                        <\/td>\n                    <\/tr>\n                <\/tbody>\n            <\/table>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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Talking to Your Doctor About Asbestos Exposure<\/em> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Asbestos has been linked with a wide and worrying range of medical conditions<\/a>, including, but not limited to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n