Asbestos Information

Asbestos Information
Asbestos Related Lung Cancer
It has long been known recognised that asbestos can be a contributory factor in people contracting lung cancer, and epidemiological studies (trend analysis) have shown that there is a higher incidence in contracting Asbestos Related Lung Lancer than Mesothelioma to those heavily exposed to asbestos. However, it is often very difficult to distinguish between the lung cancer which can be attributed to asbestos and that attributed to other conditions.

Mesothelioma
Mesolithioma is a rare disease and is caused by a malignant tumour or cancer of the lining around the lungs, chest, heart or stomach. The condition can take between 15 and 50 years to develop the symptoms after first exposure and sufferers can take up to two years to die after that. Mesolithioma is usually the result of low levels of asbestos exposure over long periods of time.

One of the problems with Mesothelioma is that some of the earliest symptoms of the disease can be easily mistaken for other less serious complaints, and some sufferers of Mesothelioma do not display any outward signs of the disease at all. Mesothelioma can therefore be easily misdiagnosed. Common symptoms of Mesothelioma are dyspea, pain from the pleural linings, persistent coughing, tiredness and loss of weight. The only certain method of diagnosing Mesothelioma is by further examination with a CT scan and X-ray, or MRI

Pleural Plaques
These are raised bilateral patches of hyaline fibrosis, or focal pleural calcification, producing dense bands of scar tissue. It is usually found in both lungs but an X-ray can only reveal about half of this condition. It is usually associated with an increase in risk of lung cancer, is not compensated by the DSS and will only attract reduced compensation through civil law.

Diffuse Pleural Thickening
Collagenous parietal pleural thickening is also scarring of the tissue of the lung lining and may be found in one or both lungs. The condition restricts breathing and is liable to turn into lung cancer.

Smoking and the effects of asbestos
It has long been recognised that smoking increases the risk of cancer ten fold, but when combined with inhalation of asbestos fibres the risk is increased by a further factor of five giving a combined risk of 50 times that of a non-smoker.

Tips for Healthy Living

Here are a few great tips to help you remain healthy, happy and full of energy!
Try to exercise at least one hour a day, at least five days a week. Exercising includes all of the following activities: walking, running, cycling, skipping, swimming, skating, dancing, aerobics, and any other sport activity.

Eat healthy foods instead of junk food (this does not mean that you can never eat junk food, just make sure you eat junk food in moderation). Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, leaner meats, lower fat dairy products, etc.
Drink plenty of water. Avoid drinking soft drinks and other drinks loaded with sugar.

Hot Health & Fitness Finds

Aquatics:Older people find stress free weightlessness in water is a good way to work out. All kinds of new "water toys" to exercise with are on the sports store shelves these days. Younger people also like aquatic fitness training. There's less stress on the joints and less sweat. …Could be the wave of the future.The 12-Minute Anti-slip and Fall Routine for Senior Adults: A Florida physician has developed an exercise routine for older adults that can be done in bed and takes just 12 minutes. Further details to come soon. Spas for the New Millennium: More and more hospitals are developing wellness centers that consist of a large variety of fitness machines, whirlpools, lap pools, running tracks and individual health analysis testing. We predict these unisex centers will replace the typical gender oriented "pampering spa' that were once the domain of rich women. More and more HMO's and insurance companies are seeing the value of preventive medicine. Nutrition Hotline:"The health of a nation has often depended on the good or bad digestion of a prime minister." -VoltaireAntioxidant Rich Foods: Now that everybody's loading up on Vitamin C and E for their proven antioxidant effects, studies show that the best antioxidant dosages are not necessarily in pill-form. Eating your 10 servings a day of fruits and veggies (remember what Mom and Grandma used to harp on?) could be the best way to increase antioxidant capacity. Although all fruits and veggies have them, the best foods for antioxidants are cauliflower, peas and oranges. Amer. Journal Clinical Nutrition, 1998.New Sugar Substitute Approved by FDA: More sucralose-sweetened products are becoming available on grocery-store shelves since last year's approval by The Food and Drug Administration of Splenda (sucralose) the latest sugar substitute to be approved in more than a decade. Advantages claimed over other sugar substitutes are no bitter aftertaste and sweetness retention when used in cooking. Steer Clear of Old Myths about Foods: Myth: Asparagus is a diuretic.Truth: Asparagus is not a diuretic. It just creates an odor during urination.Myth: Potatoes and bread make you fat.Truth: Both are healthy carbohydrates that average about 100 calories and are low in fat. It's what you add to both that increases fat. (i.e. butter, sour cream, mayonnaise)Myth: Eating after 6 p.m. makes you gain weight.Truth: Eating at night tends to lead to consuming higher calories because you are home, near the T.V. (did you ever notice what most of the commercials feature?) near the refrigerator and relaxed. Or you are eating out at a party or in a restaurant where you tend to eat higher fat and calories and larger portions. Calories are the same at any hour of the day.Myth: Drinking lots of water makes you retain fluid.
Truth: Water acts as a natural diuretic. It will help flush out your system of toxins.

Daily Health Task Lists

Just like brushing your teeth, healthy habits should be cultivated on a daily basis. The following is a guide to daily tasks:

1. Activity should be a daily occurrence. Walk, run or jump for a minimum total of 20 minutes a day.

2. Protect your skin. Sun block should be applied on face, neck, arms and hands even in the dead of winter. It protects against climatic toxins too. Moisturize skin daily.

3. Eat fruits, vegetables, grains, low-fat dairy products and small amounts of protein. Avoid sweets and other processed foods.

4. Meditate or spend a minimum of five minutes daily in quiet time.

5. Find your spiritual self. Discover what inspires you, raises your level of consciousness, motivates you, and satisfies your soul.

6. Exercise your brain. Read, study, solve problems, and learn new skills. As does the body, the brain atrophies with lack of use.

7. Hug somebody.

Crunch in Bed

Before you even get out of bed in the morning, do 10 stomach crunches while lying flat on your mattress. Increase daily by one until you get up to 100. Think you'll never get there? Try it. You may eventually have to set your clock to wake up 15 minutes earlier, a small price to pay for a flatter stomach.

Park and Walk

Whenever you have an errand, park your car as far away as you can handle and walk to the store. At the mall, park at the farthest end and walk the length of the mall. Use every opportunity to walk. At the end of the day, it all adds up to better fitness.

Walk 10 Minutes a Day and Increase Your Fitness Level

Old thinking was to work out in a sweat-filled gym for hours a day. No pain, no gain. New studies show that even short bouts of activity can increase your fitness level, especially if you're new at working out.