Asbestos testing Orange County is very important if you suspect the presence of asbestos on your premises. Asbestos is a very dangerous substance. People who have contact with it don’t always develop health problems but it is just important to take the necessary precautionary measures and avoid it. The risk of the disease usually depends on numerous factors such as how much airborne asbestos there is, how often the exposure occurs, whether the person has a lung condition or not, how long has the exposure been happening and whether the person smokes cigarettes.

Asbestos-related diseases

When one breathes asbestos, one can develop some conditions. Asbestos can cause small fibers to get stuck into the lungs and irritate the lung tissues. Studies have shown that the following condition can be caused by breathing asbestos.

Asbestosis

This is the scarring in the lungs. It is caused by breathing airborne asbestos. Scarred lungs don’t pass oxygen and carbon dioxide in and out easily. This means that breathing becomes difficult. Asbestos occurs in people with very high exposures over a long period but years may pass before symptoms appear.

Lung cancer

This is a malignant tumour that gets into the lungs and blocks the air passages. The risk of this condition is increased by asbestos exposure and smoking tobacco.

Pleural disease

This is a non-cancerous lung disease that causes changes in the membrane that surrounds the chest cavity and lungs. The membrane may get thicker throughout or in isolated areas or fluid may build up around your lungs. Not everyone with pleural changes has breathing problems but some may have less efficient functioning lungs. To avoid this problem, work with the right environment testing agency to remove asbestos because asbestos exposure will increase the risk of developing certain types of cancers.

Mesothelioma

This is a rare type of cancer that affects the membrane that covers the chest cavity and lungs, the membranes surrounding internal organs and the membrane lining the abdominal cavity. Signs of this problem may appear until thirty years to forty years after exposure to airborne asbestos.

In addition to mesothelioma and lung cancer, exposure to asbestos can cause cancer of the ovary and larynx. Current evidence shows that exposure to asbestos may cause cancer of the stomach, pharynx, and rectum.

What you should do if you are concerned with asbestos exposure

If you are concerned about asbestos exposure, you need to visit your doctor or other medical practitioners. Based on your detailed exposure to asbestos and your medical history, your doctor will do an exam and decide on additional testing if necessary.

After asbestos testing Orange County and a medical examination, asbestos cannot be removed from the lungs if exposure has already occurred. Preventing further harm to your respiratory system can reduce the chances of disease developing. It can also slow down the progress of any existing disease caused by asbestos exposure. Preventive care guidelines include having medical check-ups, getting regular vaccinations against pneumococcal pneumonia and flu, avoiding further asbestos exposure and quitting smoking.