By Alan S. Peterson, M.D.

What Is Asbestosis?

Who Gets It And Why?

Asbestos used to be common in many workplaces. People who worked with brake linings of cars, took out old asbestos insulation, built ships, or mined asbestos may now have asbestosis. If you have it, you probably came into contact with asbestos 10 – 25 years before your lung problems started. Most patients say that they were around visible asbestos dust for at least a few months. You can’t give asbestosis to other people. It is not contagious.

How Can My Doctor Tell If I Have It?

Some common symptoms are trouble breathing and a dry cough.  If you have these symptoms, your doctor will ask you about the jobs that you have had to see if you might have been around asbestos.  Your doctor may also ask you about where you live.  In the past, Manheim had many asbestos plants in the town.  You may need breathing tests or x-rays of your chest to help with the diagnosis.

If you know that you had significant exposure to asbestos in the past and no one has asked you about it, please make sure your primary care provider is made aware of this.

There is no specific treatment for asbestosis. Most people have symptoms that do not get worse over time. Your doctor may want you to have chest x-rays and breathing tests every year or so. Your doctor will give you a pneumonia shot, and you should have a flu shot every year. You should stop doing anything that exposes you to asbestos or other things that may increase lung problems in the future. 

People with asbestosis are more likely to get lung cancer.  If you have asbestosis, you should not smoke cigarettes.  Smoking and a past exposure to asbestos raises your risk of lung cancer.  It can also make breathing harder.  If you smoke, talk with your doctor about quitting. 

Where Can I Get More Information?