Asbestos symptoms are indicators of the serious adverse health problems that are caused by dangerous levels of asbestos exposure . Over one million people are exposed to the dangerous of asbestos exposure every year in the work place and should be aware of asbestos symptoms that may indicate serious underlying health problems. People who work, or have worked, in the shipyard, factory, railroad, construction, automobile, and building industries in the last 60 years may be susceptible to developing asbestos symptoms. Click here to learn more about who is at risk for asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Symptoms - Latency Period

Most deadly diseases that are caused by asbestos exposure lie dormant for years, so it is possible to suffer from the ill effects of asbestos disease without any noticeable asbestos symptoms. Because of disease latency, asbestos symptoms might appear years - even decades - after initial asbestos exposure.

Types of Asbestos Symptoms

The types of asbestos symptoms an individual experiences generally depends on the asbestos-related disease that has been developed. There are various types of asbestos-related conditions . The most common include asbestosis and mesothelioma .

Asbestosis is a non-cancerous progressive disease that may lack asbestos symptoms for 15 to 30 years. Asbestosis causes scar tissue to build up in the lower half of the lungs, which impedes normal lung functioning. Asbestos symptoms of this disease might include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chronic cough
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing

Malignant mesothelioma may lack any noticeable asbestos symptoms for up to fifty years. This cancer primarily affects the pleural lining of the lungs and the peritoneal lining of the organs in the abdominal cavity. It may also affect the pericardial lining of the heart. Depending on the type of mesothelioma, symptoms may include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Persistent cough
• Swelling
• Weight loss
• Nausea
• Obstructed bowels
• Anemia
• Fever and/or night sweats

If you have been exposed to asbestos and are experiencing any of these or related asbestos symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. If you have developed an asbestos-related disease as a result of asbestos exposure, you may be eligible to file a claim to recover your losses. Please contact us today for a FREE consultation with an experienced asbestos attorney.