How is treated asbestosis? Patients with asbestosis, as others suffering from chronic lung disease, are at higher risk of serious infection, low levels of oxygen in the blood, and heart failure.
These patients also may not recover as quickly to viral and bacterial infections.
In addition, they may be at increased risk of fungal infections and unusual that benefit patients or scarring of lung tissue.
The medical management of these patients should pay particular attention to prevention and early treatment of these infections.
Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are part of routine care for these patients.
There are, however, no treatment or cure asbestosis cons.
In particular, steroids and immune-based therapies have been shown to benefit these patients.
Other key elements in the treatment of patients with asbestosis are smoking cessation, early detection of worsening disease or cancer, and avoidance of exposure to asbestos.
Supplemental oxygen during exercise or at rest (as needed) may be made to improve the everyday function.
What is Pleural Disease? Another type of lung disease that is linked to exposure to asbestos involves the lining of the lungs, the pleura.
Benign disease of the pleura is often the only manifestation of exposure to asbestos.
There are a number of changes that may arise in the pleura with exposure to asbestos.
Pleural plaques (discussed above) May develop from fibers that migrate toward the outer edge of the lungs and cause scarring of the pleura.
Pleural "calcification" in May to produce calcium deposits in areas of previous damage.
May accumulate fluid around the lungs.
This collection of fluid, called effusion, may be the first sign of illness linked to asbestos.
Often, these fluid collections do not have symptoms to resolve on their own, and recur sporadically.
However, some patients may experience pain or bleeding in the lungs.
"Diffuse pleural thickening," which means a generalized thickening of the lining of the lungs may also occur.
The thickened pleura in May as a hint of scar tissue and even affect the lungs' ability to grow.
This condition May cause shortness of breath important.
Diffuse pleural thickening is seen as a consequence later, the repeated occurrence of fluid accumulation.