{"id":57983,"date":"2012-06-12T12:03:32","date_gmt":"2012-06-12T16:03:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/?p=57983"},"modified":"2012-08-17T14:19:21","modified_gmt":"2012-08-17T18:19:21","slug":"asbestos-mineral-that-could-drastically-change-your-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/daily-astrology\/asbestos-mineral-that-could-drastically-change-your-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Asbestos: Mineral that could Drastically Change your Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Faith Franz<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Most of you visit this blog for Eric\u2019s astrology posts, though you may know that Planet Waves has a focus on environmental issues as well. Eric has invited me to talk about a major environmental issue that could drastically change your future: asbestos exposure. <\/p>\n

\"Asbestos<\/a>
Asbestos in its raw mineral form.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Asbestos<\/a> is a naturally occurring mineral that all of us will be exposed to at some point in our lives. The fibers are so prevalent in home products and in the environment that entirely avoiding exposure is impossible. People can be exposed to asbestos in insulation, tiles, soil and literally thousands of other products.<\/p>\n

Most people will never notice any negative consequences of the exposure. However, a handful of people develop asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma<\/a>, asbestosis and lung cancer. Fewer than 30 people out of every million are expected to develop mesothelioma each year. Similarly small numbers are projected for asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer. So what\u2019s the secret to why some people develop asbestos-related diseases and others remain healthy? It\u2019s not random, and it\u2019s not fate. <\/p>\n

A number of factors actually play a role:<\/p>\n

\u2022\tDose of exposure<\/strong> \u2013 Exposure to large amounts of asbestos typically leads to a higher number of asbestos fibers in a person\u2019s lungs. Someone with a high dose of exposure is more likely to get an asbestos-related disease than someone with a low dose of exposure. Yet, those with lower doses tend to develop mesothelioma, while those with higher doses have a tendency to develop asbestosis.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u2022\tLength of exposure<\/strong> \u2013 People who were exposed to asbestos for long periods of time also have a higher risk of developing the disease. Most patients with asbestos-related diseases were industrial workers who were consistently exposed to asbestos throughout their decades-long careers. People have also developed asbestos-related diseases from years of secondhand exposure, in which they inhaled the fibers from the skin or clothing of someone who worked with the fibers.<\/p>\n

\u2022\tGenetic susceptibility<\/strong> \u2013 Scientists have identified a number of genes in the human body that may be linked to mesothelioma. The 9p gene region and multiple tumor suppressor genes play a significant role in a person\u2019s likelihood of developing mesothelioma.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

If these factors come together in just the right way, a person may develop an asbestos-related disease. These illnesses are life-threatening and extremely difficult to treat \u2013 especially when they are diagnosed in the later stages. Once diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, a patient will have to cope with potentially disabling symptoms for the rest of their life. <\/p>\n

How You Can Protect your Future Health from Asbestos<\/strong><\/p>\n

You may not be able to change asbestos exposure that has occurred in the past, but you can certainly protect your health from future exposure risks. You can also take proactive steps to improve your prognosis<\/a> if you have already been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. <\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t have a history of asbestos exposure<\/em>: If you can\u2019t recall any potential sources of asbestos exposure in your lifetime, you have little to worry about in terms of developing an asbestos-related disease. However, you can take steps to protect yourself from any exposure that might occur in the future. <\/p>\n

\u2022\tAvoid handling any products in your home that might contain asbestos. This could include old building materials, insulation, fireproofing or ceiling tiles.
\n\u2022\tIf you work in an industrial jobsite where asbestos is present, ask your manager about asbestos safety methods.
\n\u2022\tDo not hike or play in natural mineral deposits where asbestos may be present.<\/p>\n

If you know you\u2019ve been exposed to asbestos<\/em>: If you know that you have been exposed to a substantial amount of asbestos, it is a good idea to schedule regular health screenings with an asbestos-related disease specialist. Asbestos-related illnesses can take decades to develop. Even if you are not experiencing any symptoms right now, you should still be vigilant about watching for them in the future. <\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve already been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease<\/em>: Asbestos-related diseases are life-threatening and typically associated with a poor survival rate<\/a>. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, start talking to specialized treatment teams about the best therapies for your condition. Look into clinical trials. Consider each therapy that is made available to you. <\/p>\n

Each person responds differently to asbestos in the body \u2013 and each patient responds differently to treatment. Even if you\u2019ve been exposed to asbestos, your fate hasn\u2019t been written in stone. Stay informed and you can shape your future. <\/p>\n

Faith Franz is a writer for the Mesothelioma Center<\/a>. She combines her interests in whole-body health and medical research to educate the mesothelioma community about the newest developments in cancer care.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Faith Franz Most of you visit this blog for Eric\u2019s astrology posts, though you may know that Planet Waves has a focus on environmental issues as well. Eric has invited me to talk about a major environmental issue that could drastically change your future: asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that all … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7221,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":""},"categories":[1,1739],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57983"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7221"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=57983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/57983\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=57983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=57983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/planetwaves.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=57983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}