What Is Asbestosis?
Asbestosis is a lung disease caused by inhaling asbestos. The fibers get trapped in the lungs and can’t be removed by the body. After 10-50 years, scarring of lung tissue caused by asbestos makes breathing difficult.
Asbestosis is not a cancer like mesothelioma, but it’s still very dangerous. There’s no cure for asbestosis, and while treatments can help manage the condition, it’s considered a terminal illness.
Key Facts on Asbestosis
- It is a type of pulmonary fibrosis (disease marked by scarring of the lungs).
- Between 1,200 and 1,500 people die from asbestosis each year, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
- Patients with asbestosis are 8-10 times more likely to develop lung cancer.
- Roughly 50% of people exposed to asbestos will develop asbestosis, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases Registry (ATSDR).
Many cases of asbestosis could have been prevented. For decades, hundreds of companies made and sold asbestos-containing products while hiding or minimizing the health risks. By the time the public learned the truth in the early 1980s, millions of innocent people had already been exposed.
Get our Free Asbestos Products Guide to see which products may have put you at risk and learn how to pursue compensation after an asbestosis diagnosis.
Asbestosis Causes
The only known cause of asbestosis is asbestos exposure.
If you breathe in asbestos fibers, they can get trapped in your lungs and settle into the alveoli (air sacs where lungs and blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide).
The fibers then cause long-term inflammation and scarring, which hardens the lung tissues and may lead to asbestosis after several decades.
Who Is At Risk of Asbestosis?
Anyone exposed to asbestos dust or fibers could develop asbestosis later in life. The biggest risk factor was working with or around asbestos products on an everyday basis.
Occupations with the greatest risk include:
- Construction workers
- Electricians
- Insulators
- Mechanics
- Plumbers & pipefitters
- Sailors
- Shipyard workers
- U.S. veterans
Secondary asbestos exposure can also put family members in danger. This could have happened when fibers were carried home on the clothing, hair, or tools of workers.
Call (866) 608-8933 if you or a loved one developed asbestosis. You may be eligible for financial compensation to cover treatment costs and other expenses.
What Are the First Signs of Asbestosis?
Symptoms of asbestosis typically start off mild and worsen over time.
Common asbestosis symptoms include:
- Chest pain
- Crackling sound in the lungs when breathing
- Loss of appetite
- Persistent dry cough
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling of fingertips and toes (clubbing)
- Weight loss
As with other asbestos-related diseases, asbestosis symptoms may take 10-50 years to appear after the initial exposure.
“I was finding that just to climb the stairs to go to the restroom or to walk, I was gasping for air, whereas normally I’m quite active.”
– Alan, asbestosis & mesothelioma patient
Make sure to see a doctor if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and think you may have been exposed to asbestos.
How Is Asbestosis Diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose asbestosis by reviewing a patient’s medical history and performing several tests. Discussing a patient’s potential asbestos exposure is typically the first step.
Most doctors rely on these tests to diagnose asbestosis:
- Basic chest exam: A medical professional may hear a crackling sound when using a stethoscope to listen to a patient’s breathing.
- Chest X-rays: Advanced asbestosis shows up as excessive whiteness in lung tissue. In severe cases, the lungs look like honeycombs.
- CT scans: These scans are more detailed than standard X-rays. A CT scan can detect asbestosis before it appears on a chest X-ray.
- Lung function tests: These tests can help determine how well the lungs are working.
Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, doctors can recommend a treatment plan to help the patient live as long as possible.
Asbestosis Treatment Options
Asbestosis cannot be cured, but treatments can slow the progression of the disease and improve quality of life.
Asbestosis treatments include:
- Quitting smoking: Smokers diagnosed with asbestosis should stop as soon as possible. Smoking makes this condition worse.
- Oxygen therapy: This involves delivering oxygen through a mask or nasal tubes so the lungs receive enough oxygen, making breathing better.
- Lifestyle changes: Eating a nutrient-filled diet, getting regular exercise, taking steps to lower your risk of infections, and avoiding irritants like secondhand smoke or pollen can all help.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation: These programs include exercises and education to improve lung capacity and ease symptoms.
- Lung transplant surgery: In very rare cases, doctors may recommend getting a lung transplant.
Contact us now to see if you’re eligible for financial compensation to cover your asbestosis treatment costs.
Asbestosis Prognosis
Prognosis measures your projected lifespan following a diagnosis. The typical prognosis for asbestosis is 4 years or less, according to a 2022 report published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
That said, every case of asbestosis is unique, and long-term survival is possible. For example, patients who get a lung transplant can live 8.2 years on average, according to an Occupational and Environmental Medicine report.
Complications of Asbestosis
As asbestosis worsens, patients may experience life-threatening complications due to severe lung damage.
These may include:
- Heart failure
- Lung failure
- Severe respiratory distress
- Death
Asbestosis patients may also develop other health problems stemming from their asbestos exposure. These include lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other cancers.
Asbestosis Compensation
If you or a loved one has developed asbestosis, you may be eligible to pursue compensation through a few different sources.
Asbestosis compensation options include:
- Asbestosis lawsuits: You can sue the asbestos companies that made the products you were exposed to. These lawsuits sometimes award millions of dollars. Our partner asbestosis lawyers can see if you’re eligible for compensation.
- Trust funds: In addition to lawsuits, you may also be able to file claims with asbestos trust funds. These trusts contain over $30 billion today.
- VA benefits: If you’re a U.S. veteran with asbestosis, you can pursue benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Key VA benefits include disability payouts worth almost $4,000 monthly and free or inexpensive medical care.
Get a Free Asbestos Disease Case Review to see if you can file asbestosis claims and receive compensation.
Asbestosis Settlement Amounts
Nearly all asbestosis lawsuits are settled out of court. While every case is different, some patients have received millions of dollars in settlement compensation.
Notable asbestosis settlements secured by our legal partners include:
- $4 million for a Missouri pipefitter and U.S. Navy veteran with asbestosis
- $3.52 million for an Illinois asbestosis patient
- $1.98 million for a U.S. Navy veteran in Illinois with asbestosis
- $1.3 million for a union insulator and carpenter with asbestosis in Missouri
- $3.72 million for a Missouri asbestosis patient
- $30 billion has been set aside in asbestos trust funds to pay mesothelioma victims
- $1 million to $1.4 million average settlement amount
- $9.6+ billion recovered for families by Simmons Hanly Conroy
- $5 million to $11.4 million average verdict amount
Simmons Hanly Conroy, Mealey’s® Litigation Report: Asbestos, and the U.S. Government Accountability Office
The asbestos lawyers we work with will fight to get the highest asbestosis settlements on your behalf and will represent you in court in the rare event your case goes to trial.
Find Hope For Asbestosis
You or someone you love never deserved to develop asbestosis — but because of the negligence of companies, thousands continue to be diagnosed every year.
While an asbestosis diagnosis can come as a shock, it’s important to stay hopeful. At Mesothelioma Hope, we stand ready to assist anyone affected by asbestos-related diseases.
Our team can help you:
- Better understand asbestosis and what to expect
- Pursue asbestosis payouts worth over $1 million
- Secure justice for you or a loved one’s asbestos exposure
Call (866) 608-8933 or get a free asbestos case review to start the process.
Asbestosis FAQs
What is asbestosis, and what causes it?
Asbestosis is a disease in which lung function worsens over time. The lung tissue hardens and stiffens due to scarring, leading to difficulty breathing.
The only known cause of asbestosis is exposure to asbestos, a fiber-like mineral once used in thousands of products. Private manufacturers hid the risks of asbestos for decades.
Asbestosis typically develops 10-50 years after asbestos exposure, so many are just developing this illness now.
What is the life expectancy of someone with asbestosis?
The average life expectancy after an asbestosis diagnosis is 4 years or less, according to a 2022 report published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
That said, each case is different, and you may be able to live longer than expected. The best way to improve your life expectancy is to get prompt treatment after you’re diagnosed with asbestosis.
What’s the difference between mesothelioma and asbestosis?
Mesothelioma and asbestosis are very different from one another. Asbestosis is a noncancerous but serious lung disease.
Mesothelioma, on the other hand, is an aggressive cancer that affects the lining of internal organs, most commonly the lungs.
Both asbestosis and mesothelioma are caused by asbestos exposure and may share symptoms like chest pain and difficulty breathing. If you were exposed and are feeling unwell, make sure to see a doctor.
How can you cure asbestosis?
Asbestosis cannot be cured. However, quitting smoking and getting supplemental oxygen can keep the disease from worsening.
If you’re a victim of asbestos exposure, you may qualify for compensation to help pay for your asbestosis treatments. Call our team at (866) 608-8933 now to learn more.
How fatal is asbestosis?
Asbestosis is usually fatal because of the progressive nature of the disease. A person’s lungs stiffen to the point where it becomes difficult to breathe.
That said, long-term survival is possible if a patient can successfully get a lung transplant.
Since asbestosis progresses slowly over many years, patients may have more time to spend with their loved ones.
How We Can Help
