Asbestos exposure does not cause immediate symptoms. Health effects typically appear 10 to 50 years later, with early signs including shortness of breath and fluid buildup.
If you were exposed to asbestos, talk with your doctor about getting screened for mesothelioma and other related illnesses — even if you aren’t experiencing any symptoms yet.
What Are the Health Risks of Asbestos Exposure?
Asbestos is a known human carcinogen with no safe level of exposure, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
While asbestos exposure doesn’t cause symptoms immediately, it can lead to life-threatening illnesses decades later. This includes mesothelioma, a rare cancer that forms in the lining of the lungs or abdomen.
Other asbestos-related diseases include:
The symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases — such as chest pain, cough, fluid buildup, and difficulty breathing — are often mild at first. Because of this, they may be dismissed as something less serious.
You should see a doctor if you were ever exposed to asbestos and are now feeling sick. The earlier you are diagnosed, the more treatment options you’ll have to fight your illness.
Get our Free Asbestos Products Guide to learn about materials that contained asbestos and whether you might have been exposed.
Can Asbestos Cause Immediate Symptoms?
Asbestos-related diseases have a long latency period (time between exposure and symptoms). Most patients don’t experience any symptoms until 10 to 50 years after exposure.
After breathing in or swallowing asbestos, the fibers gradually irritate healthy tissues. Over time, long-term inflammation causes cancer tumors to form, which is when symptoms first start to appear.
Early symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Hoarseness
- Night sweats
- Pain in the abdomen, back, or chest
- Peritoneal effusion (fluid buildup in abdominal lining)
- Persistent and sometimes bloody cough
- Pleural effusion (fluid buildup in lung lining)
- Shortness of breath
- Weight loss
However, because of the long latency period, many patients may dismiss these symptoms as more common and less serious health problems.
When Alan Bonnin developed a cough, he thought it was a symptom of postnasal drip. But after experiencing pleural effusions that collapsed his lung, he agreed to more testing, which led to a shocking mesothelioma diagnosis.
“I never thought I would be affected by something like mesothelioma. It never occurred to me that I even was exposed, until I was diagnosed.”
Who Is at Risk for Diseases Caused by Asbestos Exposure?
Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos is in danger of getting sick later in life. People who worked with asbestos-containing materials in industries like construction and shipbuilding are at the highest risk.
Roughly 27 million people were exposed to asbestos from 1940 to 1979 — and manufacturers of asbestos-containing products hid the health risks during this time.
Some high-risk occupations include:
- Auto and aircraft repair
- Construction and carpentry
- Demolition
- Firefighting
- Insulation
- Manufacturing
- Mining and milling
- Shipbuilding
Additionally, U.S. veterans are at high risk of asbestos diseases since every branch of the military used this material in ships, bases, and other assets until the early 1980s.
Family members of workers were also in danger of secondary asbestos exposure. Brenda Ward developed mesothelioma after being exposed through her father and ex-husband, both of whom worked with products that contained asbestos.
“My dad was a subcontractor, and he used to take us with him on his job sites. My ex-husband used to work on cars. He changed brakes and motor oil.”
How Are Symptoms of Asbestos-Related Diseases Diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose symptoms of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases using a series of tests.
Mesothelioma should be diagnosed by a specialist. Seeing a mesothelioma specialist early on can help prevent a misdiagnosis.
“It’s such a rare cancer that the majority of patients end up getting misdiagnosed or treated for a number of other things before it gets figured out.”
Mesothelioma specialists use imaging scans like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs to assess any signs of cancer in the body, and then perform a biopsy (removal of tissue sample) to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Use our Free Doctor Match for help connecting with mesothelioma specialists near you.
Get Help Diagnosing Asbestos Exposure Symptoms
If you or a loved one were exposed to asbestos in the past and are now feeling ill, see a specialist promptly.
Experienced mesothelioma doctors can accurately diagnose your condition and recommend the best treatments.
At Mesothelioma Hope, our Patient Advocates can help you:
- Connect with nearby mesothelioma specialists
- Explore your treatment options
- Pursue compensation to cover medical expenses
Call us at (866) 608-8933 now or use our Free Doctor Match to get started and stay on top of your health.
