Asbestos is still wreaking havoc on the citizens of Illinois, even decades after its discontinuance as a building material. Construction workers and homeowners who faced exposure are still dealing with the aftermath.
Here at Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, we want to give you the most relevant developments in asbestos-related diseases. While the illnesses categorized below are not malignant and doctors cannot say asbestos causes them, they do seem to have a connection to the dangerous material.
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly known as COPD, is a condition that develops in the lungs. People who have the illness have a difficult time breathing. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are the two subsects of COPD. Those exposed to asbestos are more susceptible to developing COPD that people who never came in contact with it.
Pleural effusions
The outer layer of the lungs comes into contact with the chest cavity. To prevent friction and to make the expansion of the lungs easier and seamless, pockets of fluid lubricate the pleura, the outer membrane of the lungs. However, when there is too much fluid filling the pleural cavity, the lungs can remain compressed, and it can become painful to breathe. The condition, known as pleural effusion, typically resolves a few months after it begins; however, it tends to recur and can signal the start of an asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma.
If you worked or lived around asbestos and develop these illnesses, you may want to let your doctor know. These two conditions on their own are not necessarily malignant, but they can lead to pain, a decline in quality of life, and fatal diseases may follow. For more guidance on the subject, take a look at out the information provided on our website.
