Asbestosis

Inhalation of high levels of asbestos dust over a long period causes causes fibers to become imbedded in the alveoli, the air sacs of the lungs. These fibers are an irritant to lung tissue, causing it to scar and stiffen. The more the disease progresses, the stiffer the lung tissue becomes, preventing it from contracting and expanding in the usual way and interfering with normal breathing. In individuals who smoke, asbestosis progresses more quickly.

Typically, it takes between 20 and 30 years after initial exposure for the symptoms of asbestosis to appear. These symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest tightness or pain
• Persistent, dry cough
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Chronic fatigue
• Pleural effusion, fluid accumulation in the pleural cavity

In advanced stages of asbestosis, patients may develop clubbed fingertips and toes that appear wider than normal and abnormalities of the nails.

When a patient suffering respiratory symptoms has a history of exposure to asbestos, the possibility of asbestosis must be investigated. In order to diagnose the disease, the doctor will perform a thorough physical examination and may perform the following tests:

• Pulmonary function tests
• Chest X-ray
• Pulmonary CT scan

During diagnosis, asbestosis must be distinguished from mesothelioma. Though both share many of the same symptoms, mesothelioma is form of cancer and has a worse prognosis. Although the conditions are different, patients with asbestosis have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma than other individuals.

While there is no cure currently available for asbestosis, measures can be taken to relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. In some cases, the initial treatment is to assist the patient in giving up smoking, since smoking exacerbates the condition and contributes to the development of lung cancer. Other possible treatments may, depending on the severity of the individual case, include one or more of the following:

• Drainage of the pleural cavity
• Oxygen therapy
• Medication to lower blood pressure, if necessary
• Lung transplant

Patients with asbestosis require follow-up examinations. The frequency of such examinations is determined by the stage of the disease. Because of increased susceptibility, it is extremely important that asbestosis patients take steps to prevent respiratory infections by getting necessary vaccinations for flu and pneumonia and by avoiding people who are ill.

Dr. Chug’s expertise also extends to the legal field, where he collaborates with law firms to help with their clients affected with asbestosis. Here he helps evaluate patients with occupational lung diseases, leveraging his medical specialty to aid in case management.