Pleural Disease: A Result of Asbestos Exposure

Submitted By: E. Johnston
If you have been exposed to asbestos, then you are at risk for contracting any number of medical conditions, including pleural disease. Pleural disease occurs when the tissue lining the lungs becomes scarred and as a result lung use is restricted. This typically means that the person suffering from pleural disease has limited breathing capability. In short, this disease causes harm to normal lung function. There is a change in the secretion of lubrication, which can lead to a change in pressure within the chest cavity. You could ultimately have lung inflammation, difficulty breathing and other major lung problems.

Generally, with pleural disease, you will find that there is a significant amount of tissue scarring in the pleura. There are, in fact, four different types of pleural disease: pleurisy, pneumothorax, pleural mesothelioma and pleural effusions. If you believe you are suffering from pleural disease, make sure that you learn about the four different types of pleural disease. In addition, you will be better able to understand the details of your condition and have improved communication with your doctor if you are diagnosed with pleural disease and familiar with the various forms.

Pleurisy involves the inflammation of the pleura. This can be caused by pneumonia, tumors, viral infections and lung blood clots. You may have sharp pains in the area of the chest that seem to get worse when you breathe deeply. You may also experience a significant amount of coughing with this condition along with a multitude of other symptoms.

Pneumothorax is a condition that allows air to escape from the lung into the pleura space. When air enters this space, there is an interference with how well the function of the pleura works. This means that the lungs could collapse.

Another pleural disease that you have may have heard of is called pleural mesothelioma. This is a serious, life-threatening cancer caused by asbestos exposure. This form of mesothelioma usually spreads within the chest cavity, but can occur in any organ, including the brain. The onset is typically slow with the most common presenting symptom being persistent pain localized in the chest. Additional symptoms include difficulty breathing, weight loss and fever.

Pleural effusion is the type of pleural disease that is the most common out of all four. It is characterized by an abnormal amount of fluid that builds up in the cavity of the pleura.

It is important to make sure that you are doing your best to avoid any and all exposure to asbestos whenever possible. You want to make sure that you are getting regular check-ups if you believe you have been exposed to asbestos, and, if you ever feel that you may be showing signs and symptoms of any pleural disease, visit your doctor immediately. You will want to request that any and all tests and scans are performed by your doctor in order to make sure that you are healthy and that any developing condition is caught in its early stages. Inform your doctor about whether you have been exposed to asbestos and what your health concerns are regarding your exposure.