Asbestos Diseases/Poisoning Symptoms

What are the Symptoms of Asbestos Related Diseases?

If you regularly breathe in air which contains asbestos fibres over a prolonged period of time then it can lead to asbestos-related diseases. Unlike most diseases, however, asbestos-related illnesses don’t develop until many years after the initial exposure – anywhere from 15-60 years later- which can make them difficult (near-impossible, even) to detect until it’s too late.

One, short exposure to asbestos is unlikely to do any lasting damage, but for people whose work involves regular exposure to damaged or disturbed asbestos containing materials (ACMs), the risks are much higher and much more severe.

Asbestos is known to be a Category 1 carcinogen, meaning that the substance is proven to cause cancer amongst humans. Recent figures from the Health and Safety Executive estimate that over 3,000 people die each year from asbestos-related diseases, mainly from mesothelioma and asbestosis.

But what are the symptoms of these fatal asbestos-related diseases?

Symptoms of mesothelioma	Symptoms of asbestosis
Chest or lower back pain Fatigue A persistent cough Shortness of breath High temperature or fever Excessive sweating Loss of appetite or weight loss Difficulty swallowing Swollen fingertips, arms or face Stomach pain Nausea and/or vomiting Diarrhoea or constipation	A persistent cough Shortness of breath Fatigue Chest pain or tightness Wheezing Loss of appetite
Symptoms of asbestos-related lung cancer	Symptoms of non-malignant pleural disease
A persistent cough Difficulty breathing Shortness of breath Persistent fatigue Persistent chest pain Coughing up blood Hoarseness Chest infections Weight loss or loss of appetite Swollen fingers, neck or face	Pain on one side of the chest Pain when breathing, sneezing or coughing Breathlessness

These lists of symptoms are not definitive and many diseases show different symptoms in their early stages or develop as the condition progresses. If you possess any of the listed symptoms and are concerned about them then it’s important that you speak to a GP straight away and inform them of any exposure to asbestos you’ve had in the past, no matter how long ago.