Asbestos is an extremely hazardous substance, which can demonstrate no signs of exposure for long periods. Most of the time mesothelioma patients will not experience any ill effect for up to 40 years. Because of its long latency period, finding early warning signs of asbestos exposure can be very difficult.
The diagnosis of asbestos poisoning can be somewhat difficult because symptoms of asbestos poisoning or its related diseases such as mesothelioma or asbestosis do not manifest until decades after exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos poisoning also called as asbestosis is an interstitial pulmonary fibrosis that is caused by asbestos exposure. When asbestos containing materials break down or disturbed, its microscopic fibers become airborne that can easily be inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health concerns in the long run.
Mesothelioma is on the rise in the United States. Approximately 2,000 new cases of asbestos-related conditions are diagnosed each year. It is also estimated that around 499,000 deaths of asbestos-related illnesses has been recorded, and over 721,000 people in the United States have filed claims for asbestos-related illnesses. These numbers are predicted to increase significantly in the future.
Patients easily breathe in asbestos due to its minute particles size. These particles then become embedded deep inside the lungs where they cause either scarring (asbestosis) or lung cancer. If these fibers travel from the lung into the blood stream, they may enter other parts of the body such as the peritoneum and the lining covering the abdominal cavity, and may result in abdominal mesothelioma.