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It is common knowledge that smoking is hazardous to one’s health. Additionally, many people know that asbestos exposure is hazardous and can lead to the development of the disease mesothelioma. Therefore if you live in an older building and suspect the presence of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs), it is important to arrange for a professional asbestos survey.
Not everyone who has lived or worked in a building with asbestos-containing materials will develop health issues. The problems occur when the asbestos is disturbed or broken, and tiny fibres are released into the air which inhabitants can inhale. In most cases, the person will be complete unaware of the risks, and decades may pass before symptoms of health issues appear. For this reason, when symptoms do occur, it is often too late for the person to be successfully treated.
It’s important to note that the combination of smoking and exposure to asbestos fibres can significantly increase the risk of developing mesothelioma or other related cancers. Many individuals may not be aware of the heightened danger that occurs when these two harmful elements are present together, making it crucial to take proactive measures to minimize exposure to both smoking and asbestos. By staying informed and taking precautions, individuals can reduce their risk of developing serious health complications associated with these dangerous substances.
Cigarettes have many harmful chemicals that break down the lungs and for many years have been considered a leading cause of cancer. Asbestos exposure also exposes the lungs to toxic chemicals that weaken your body’s defences against cancers and other lung problems.
Studies have found that cigarette smokers have a four to eleven times greater chance of getting lung cancer than non-smokers. If a person is a heavy smoker, then the number goes up to twenty-seven times as likely. Adding a heavy smoker to asbestos exposure sends the probability of lung cancer skyrocketing. In fact, heavy smokers with a history of asbestos exposure have a 50 to 90 times greater chance of having lung cancer. Needless to say, heavy smoking and large amounts of asbestos exposure will almost certainly lead to lung cancer.
Smoking causes chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). People who smoke and have been exposed to asbestos have higher occurrences of COPD than people who have not been exposed to asbestos. Some of the terrible effects of COPD are the inflammation and eventual destruction of small airways in the lung tissue. Once these tissues have been destroyed, some people can be completely debilitated, and have trouble breathing.
Studies have shown that people who quit smoking but still have had asbestos exposure are less likely to have lung cancer than those who continue to smoke. Some say that COPD can be reversed the longer time is spent without smoking. Additionally, people who can quit smoking often feel healthier over time and significantly increase their life expectancy. Even though any amount of smoking or asbestos exposure can lead to lung cancer, the sooner one quits, the better off they will be.
Asbestos exposure is very harmful to anyone. However, if you know you have been exposed to asbestos and continue smoking, you are playing with fate. The sooner someone stops smoking, the sooner their lungs can begin to heal. Mesothelioma and other cancers are severe diseases that often end in death. Smokers should quit immediately to stay alive for their sake and that of their loved ones.
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