Serious Symptoms Of Asbestosis

Loss Of Appetite And Weight Loss

The lungs of an individual who is exposed to asbestos regularly for a long period become damaged from the asbestos fibers that become embedded in the lung tissues. The fragile lung tissues grow around the asbestos fibers, and the patient's immune system attempts to repair the damage being done by the fibers. Scar tissue develops in the lung tissues as a result of this mechanism. Scar tissue does not function in the same way healthy lung tissues do, causing the healthy tissues of the lungs to have to work harder. When an individual has damage in their lungs, the organs can burn over ten times more calories than healthy lungs would. When an individual has a negative energy balance or burns off more calories than they are eating, they will experience weight loss. The loss of appetite and weight loss is related to the fatigue and mental health issues that can develop in some asbestosis patients.