Signs and symptoms
... The effects of long-term exposure to asbestos typically don''t show up for 20 to 30 years after initial exposure. Signs and symptoms develop when damage and scarring caused by the asbestos fibers lead...

Causes
... When you inhale, air travels through your nose or mouth, down your throat, through your larynx to your trachea — air''s main passageway to your lungs. Your trachea splits into two branches calle...

Risk factors
... Because asbestos occurs naturally in the environment, everyone breathes in a certain amount of asbestos fibers. Usually, these are expelled before they reach the deeper areas of your lungs, but even i...

When to seek medical advice
... If you have a history of exposure to asbestos and you''re experiencing increasing shortness of breath, talk to your doctor about the possibility of asbestosis. If it is asbestosis, your doctor may be ...

Screening and diagnosis
... To help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis, provide him or her with a detailed history of your work activities and any other sources of possible exposure to toxic dusts. Tell your doctor about the...