Following is a discussion of mesothelioma causes, risks, & cautions. Asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma. Almost 90% of the cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos.
Asbestos are naturally occurring materials used in many building products, auto supplies and other products due to its ability to resist heat.
When asbestos is disturbed it releases its tiny fibers that can then be absorbed, chiefly into the lungs. Asbestos fibers are very fine and, when ingested, they make their way into the smallest airways of the lung. They are then nearly impossible to expel.
The asbestos fibers can also go through lung tissues & settle in the pleura (the membrane around the lung). Over many years they can cause mesothelioma or other lung diseases to develop.
Asbestos fibers can also be swallowed & stick in the digestive system. From there they can move into the membrane that lines the abdomen (the peritoneum) causing inflammation & other health problems.
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Workers who deal with materials containing asbestos are at risk for asbestos ingestion & health problems including mesothelioma.
These include:
* construction workers - especially when working with insulation
* auto mechanics
* plumbers - again, pipe insulation is a chief culprit
* building inspectors
* boilermakers
* painters
* electricians
* roofers
* demolition workers
* shipbuilders
* people who worked in other places where asbestos was present
* people who lived near to asbestos factories.
Other mesothelioma facts concerning cause
Cases of mesothelioma may increase for several decades for several reasons.
The World Trade Center disaster on September 11, 2001, exposed millions of New Yorkers to air filled with cancer causing asbestos particles.
When you factor in the time it takes for asbestos diseases to emerge, we should expect cases of health disorders including mesothelioma to be diagnosed for decades to come.
Note that mesothelioma may not develop for 10 to 60 years, with the average being about 30 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos.
Also, family members of people who work with asbestos and brought the dust home on their clothes & equipment can also develop mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can also develop in people with no known exposure to asbestos. The other causes of the disease are not well known but in rare cases mesothelioma has been linked to radiation exposure.
Research has not found any evidence that smoking increases a person's risk of developing mesothelioma.
Note that mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot be passed on to other people.
Mesothelioma facts: prevention & treatment
Some brief advice if you suspect you are at risk for developing mesothelioma or dealing with it.
Whatever else you are doing, you must include lifestyle changes in your efforts.
Start by assuring you are not drinking contaminated water (one of the cancer & mesothelioma causes) which taxes your immune system & efforts by your liver to rid itself of contaminants.
Purchase a water filter or
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for good water filters.
We also encourage you to exercise to build stamina & muscle tone. Visit our sister site on healthy exercise for information on how to exercise to improve your health.
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to visit Healthy Exercise World.
Finally, if you suspect you have been exposed to mesothelioma causes, click on the 2 images below for herbal formulations to help build your immune system & expel some toxins which could lead to cancer formation.