Who is at Increased Risk For Developing Mesothelioma?

Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. One of the features of daily life was the constant presence of asbestos dust in the air. The majority of mesothelioma cases are directly linked to asbestos exposure. Since the late 1800's Asbestos has been mined and used commercially. The use of Asbestos dramatically increased during World War II and since the early 1940's millions of Americans have been exposed to asbestos dust working within industries where initially the risks were not known. There has been widespread exposure to Asbestos by workers within shipyards, mines and mills, producers of asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and other tradespeople and an increase risk of deveolping mesothelioma has been the result. Asbestos is a very lightweight chrystal-like material with highly static electrical properties. It often produces a static discharge like when one is shocked by touching the metal switch plate or door knob in their home. It often leaves a bitter-salty taste in your mouth. It can stay airbo e for days at a time. It absorbs moisture and produces a very dry environment (which only makes the static electric situation worse.) The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases. Family members and others living with asbestos workers have a increased risk of developing mesothelioma and possibly other asbestos-related diseases. This risk may be the result of exposure to asbestos dust brought home on the clothing and hair of asbestos workers. To reduce the chance of exposing family members to asbestos fibers, asbestos workers are usually reduired to shower and change their clothing before leaving the workplace. The combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person's risk of developing cancer of the air passageways in the lung. The Kent brand of cigarettes used asbestos in its filters for the first few years of production in the 1950s and some cases of mesothelioma have resulted. Smoking current cigarettes does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. The crucial duery comes in on how to treat the disease from asbestos exposure? There are standard treatments of this disease which comprise of; surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or sometimes combination of these treatments is applied on the patient. There is no curative treatment. Close monitoring (routine X-rays or even pleural biopsy) for mesothelioma is mandated. Oxygen therapy at home is often necessary to relieve the shortness of breath. Supportive treatment of symptoms includes respiratory treatments to remove secretions from the lungs by postural drainage, chest percussion, and vibration. Aerosol medications to thin secretions may be prescribed. Cancer specialists treat it according to the extent and location in the body. The complete resource directory for Mesothelioma related information, legal services, and products, Check out more Mesothelioma articles at: MesoWatch.com