What Are the Symptoms of Asbestosis?

People with asbestosis may notice symptoms like trouble breathing, a dry cough or a feeling of tightness in the chest. These problems happen when asbestos fibers settle in the lungs and cause scarring. Over time, this scarring makes it harder for the lungs to work well.

Asbestosis symptoms often take 10 to 40 years to appear and may look like other lung diseases, such as COPD or pulmonary fibrosis. They usually get worse over time and can also show up in other asbestos-related conditions, including pleural mesothelioma and lung cancer. If you’ve been exposed to asbestos and notice these signs, talk to your doctor about your risk for asbestosis to ensure a timely and accurate diagnosis.

Common Asbestosis Symptoms

  • Blood in sputum
  • Chest pain or tightness
  • Clubbing of the fingers (enlarged fingertips)
  • Crackles (sounds in the lungs when breathing)
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Dry, persistent cough
  • Fatigue
  • Hypertension
  • Loss of appetite
  • Shortness of breath, especially with physical activity
  • Swelling in the neck or face
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Wheezing

Navy veteran Jerry Cochran tells us he was initially diagnosed with sarcoidosis in 1975, but when his symptoms began to change, he wanted to find answers. The more he read about his symptoms, the more he felt they didn’t match up with his diagnosis. Jerry says, “Armed with that information, I knew that something was going on. “And that made me even more curious about this disease.” 

Eventually he was diagnosed with silicosis in 1991. But he began to feel his worsening symptoms meant something else was going on. In 2010, nearly 20 years after his silicosis diagnosis and 35 years after his sarcoidosis diagnosis, he received an asbestosis diagnosis.

Complications Linked to Asbestosis

Asbestosis symptoms can be a sign of complications or other serious conditions. Although asbestosis itself isn’t cancerous, long-term asbestos exposure is known to cause cancer and other life-threatening complications.

Conditions Associated With Asbestosis

  • Chronic respiratory failure
  • Heart problems from right-sided heart strain (cor pulmonale)
  • Increased risk of lung cancer
  • Risk of developing pleural mesothelioma

Although mesothelioma and asbestosis are both the result of asbestos exposure, one condition isn’t a direct complication of the other. However, developing one asbestos-related disease can indicate a higher likelihood of developing another.

Early vs. Late Symptoms of Asbestosis

Symptoms of asbestosis tend to appear slowly, 20 to 30 years after exposure, and become more severe over time. In the early stages, symptoms may be mild and easy to ignore. As the disease progresses, inflammation and scarring make breathing more difficult, which can have a significant impact on daily life.

Asbestos fibers are tiny, sharp and straight. When people breathe them in, the fibers can get stuck in the lungs. The body has a hard time pushing them out. Over decades, the damage to the lungs can be irreversible and even deadly. 

Stage Early Symptoms Late Symptoms
Onset Shortness of breath during physical activity Difficulty breathing even at rest
Respiratory Mild, dry cough Persistent, dry cough with chest tightness
Physical General fatigue or reduced exercise tolerance Clubbing of the fingers, chest pain

Managing Asbestosis Symptoms

Although there is no cure for asbestosis, many treatment strategies can help relieve asbestosis symptoms and improve quality of life. People may benefit from palliative care or personalized asbestosis treatment options based on the severity of symptoms and overall health.

Ways to Manage Asbestosis Symptoms

  1. Lifestyle changes: Making small changes each day can ease asbestosis symptoms. Quitting smoking, avoiding air pollution and staying active with your doctor’s OK can help your lungs work better.
  2. Medications: Doctors may prescribe medicine to ease coughing, reduce inflammation and help you breathe better. Common options include inhalers, bronchodilators and steroids.
  3. Pulmonary rehabilitation: These programs use exercise, education and breathing techniques to help you breathe easier and build strength. These programs can lessen asbestosis symptoms and boost your endurance.
  4. Surgery: Doctors rarely use surgery to treat asbestosis. You might need surgery if you develop serious problems, like lung cancer or pleural effusion. In advanced cases, doctors may consider a lung transplant.

These asbestosis treatment options aren’t one-size-fits-all. The best way to treat asbestosis symptoms depends on your health. The goal is to make your quality of life better and slow the disease. Regular check-ups and prescribed medicines can help. Acting early and talking with your care team can help control symptoms and prevent more problems.

How Is Asbestosis Diagnosed?

Asbestosis is diagnosed with a discussion of your asbestos exposure history, lung function tests and imaging scans. Doctors take your asbestos exposure history into account when reviewing your test results when making a diagnosis.

Tests to identify asbestosis and other forms of lung fibrosis look for certain signs and symptoms. Examples include crackling breathing sounds, scar tissue in the lungs and pleural plaque buildup.

Testing for Asbestosis. Stethoscope: One of the first tools a doctor will use in the diagnostic process is a stethoscope, which allows them to listen to the lungs. Spirometer: The patient blows into an instrument called a spirometer, which measures how much air the lungs can hold and how well air flows in and out. Chest X-Ray: Scarred lung tissue appears more opaque on an X-ray. In advanced cases of asbestosis, lung tissue may have a honeycomb-like appearance. CT Scan: Doctors use computerized tomography (CT) scanning when X-ray results are unclear.
Imaging tests such as chest X-rays and CT scans, along with lung function tests, help detect asbestos-related lung damage.

Medical History and Physical Examination

Discussing exposure to asbestos at work or home can indicate to your doctor that asbestosis could be a possible diagnosis. Jobs such as construction, shipbuilding or manufacturing have higher exposure risks. During an exam, your doctor may hear crackling in your lungs, observe changes in your fingers or notice breathing difficulties.

 Your history of exposure helps your doctor decide what tests to do. If you’ve worked with asbestos or lived with someone who has, share this info with your doctor.

Imaging Tests

Imaging is key to diagnosing asbestosis. Chest X-rays and CT scans are used to find signs like pleural plaques or lung scarring. These images can show asbestos fibers have damaged your lungs. 

Imaging also helps rule out other lung problems with similar symptoms. CT scans give more detailed pictures of your lungs and can find changes that X-rays might miss.

Pulmonary Function Tests

Pulmonary function tests can detect reduced airflow, decreased lung volume and lower oxygen exchange associated with asbestosis. PFTs may include a lung capacity test, respiratory muscle strength and performance tests for mild cardio, such as a 6-minute walk. 

PFTs are helpful for checking if asbestosis is getting worse and whether treatments are working. The results help doctors choose the next steps to manage symptoms.

Biopsy and Pathology

A lung biopsy is sometimes done to check for asbestosis, especially if scans and breathing tests don’t give a clear answer. Doctors take a small piece of lung tissue and look at it under a microscope for signs of scarring and asbestos fibers. 

Doctors can see damage from asbestos fibers in the lung tissue. A biopsy is more common if there is concern about other problems, such as mesothelioma or lung cancer.

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Importance of Diagnosing Asbestosis Early

Because asbestosis symptoms develop slowly and can look like other lung problems, finding it early is very important. Detecting the disease early can help prevent serious issues and make it easier to manage symptoms. 

It can take 20 to 30 years after being exposed to asbestos for asbestosis to be diagnosed. If you notice symptoms like shortness of breath, frequent cough or chest pain, especially if you have a history of asbestos exposure, see a doctor right away.

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Grades of Asbestosis Severity

When you have asbestosis, your doctor will give your condition a grade from 0 to 4. Grade 0 is the lowest, and grade 4 is the highest. Knowing what each grade means is important because it helps guide your treatment.

The 5 Grades of Asbestosis

  • Grade 0: Some scar tissue in the small air passages and air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs.
  • Grade 1: Scar tissue in most of the small air passages and some of the air sacs.
  • Grade 2: Scar tissue in most of the small air passages and air sacs.
  • Grade 3: Very severe scarring throughout the lungs. Some of the air sacs are destroyed.
  • Grade 4: The lungs have a honeycomb pattern caused by heavy scarring.

Usually, the amount of scarring in your lungs determines the grade of your asbestosis. More scarring means a worse case, which needs stronger treatment.

Jerry Cochran
Verified Asbestos.com Survivor
Navy Veteran’s Symptoms Lead to Asbestosis Diagnosis

Jerry Cochran felt like something else was going on since his condition was worsening. He was then diagnosed with asbestosis. He struggles to breathe because his lungs can’t expand and contract the way they’re supposed to. The paint he scraped off of the aircraft carrier he served on decades ago contained asbestos, leading to his asbestosis. The condition is incurable, but many patients can survive several decades with treatment.

Jerry Cochran
Verified Asbestos.com Survivor
Read Jerry’s Story

What Should I Do After an Asbestosis Diagnosis?

After being diagnosed with asbestosis, it’s important to take steps to protect your health and prevent symptoms from worsening. The first and most crucial step after receiving an asbestosis diagnosis is to avoid any further asbestos exposure. While the condition is incurable, treatment for asbestosis can help reduce its impact.

Next Steps After an Asbestosis Diagnosis

  1. Get vaccinated for flu and pneumonia
  2. Monitor lung function through regular tests
  3. See a pulmonologist for specialized care
  4. Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke
  5. Track symptoms and adjust treatment as needed

Once you’re no longer exposed to asbestos, simple changes like eating healthy and doing moderate cardio can help control asbestosis symptoms. Having a plan helps to manage asbestosis symptoms and reduces the chance of more problems. Your health care team will help you develop a treatment plan with tailored advice based on your needs.

Common Questions About Asbestosis Symptoms and Diagnosis

Can asbestosis be cured?

No, asbestosis can’t be cured. However, treatments such as pain medication and pulmonary rehab can relieve symptoms, slow progression and improve quality of life.

What is the difference between asbestosis and mesothelioma?

Asbestosis is a lung disease that isn’t cancerous. Mesothelioma is a rare and fast-growing cancer. Asbestos exposure causes both asbestosis and mesothelioma, but each disease has different outcomes and ways to treat them.

What should you do if you think you have asbestosis?

If you think you have asbestosis, see a doctor immediately, especially if you’ve had past asbestos exposure. Early diagnosis can help reduce complications and lead to better treatment outcomes.

Why is it essential to get a second opinion?

Because asbestosis can look like other lung problems, doctors might mistake it for something else. Misdiagnosis can delay treatment while your asbestosis symptoms worsen. A second opinion can help make sure you have asbestosis and not a different condition.

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