Asbestos has been out of production in the United States since 1975, but the diseases it causes-mainly asbestosis and mesothelioma-are only on the rise. This is mostly due to the fact that the symptoms most associated with asbestos can take decades to arise in a clearly defined pattern where the culprit can be identified. Many retirees assume that their shortness of breath after mild exertion is just a natural consequence of the aging process, when in fact it may very well be due to fluid buildup in the chest cavity, placing stress on the lungs.

Asbestosis and mesothelioma some symptoms in common, due to scarring and inflammation in the lungs when asbestos fibers are inhaled. as mentioned, shortness of breath (dyspnea) is an asbestos related symptom, one that applies to both disease. In about 15% of cases, this evolves into respiratory failure in asbestosis. Pleura mesothelioma, which affects the linings around the chest and lungs, and asbestosis both exhibit a dry, hacking cough in patients.

Other symptoms are specific to one or the other condition. Asbestosis symptoms include persistent fatigue, irregular sleep and chest pain (particularly when inhaling).

Mesothelioma symptoms are a bit more diverse, due to the different internal organs that can be affected (e.g, pleura vs. desmoplastic mesothelioma). a mesotheleum is the generic name for the layer of protective cells surrounding particular organs, and the mesotheleum around different organs have different names.

For instance, peritoneal mesothelioma affects the peritoneum, which is the name for the mesothelium surrounding the abdominal cavity. The symptoms of this disease include abdominal swelling, bowel obstruction, nausea, sudden weight loss, blood clotting in the legs, vomiting and anemia. Pleural mesothelioma’s symptoms are similar to those of asbestosis, since the former also affects the lining of the chest cavity and lungs.

The symptoms of both disease may seem fairly generic, which they are-and why they’re so hard to diagnose, particularly in combination with their long latency period of 20 to 50 years. If you’ve had a history of asbestos exposure, and suspect you might have symptoms that suggest one of these conditions, don’t try to diagnose yourself. See a physician, since even an experienced expert will need to actually run tests before making a solid diagnosis.