Feeling like you cannot fill your lungs.This is known as fibrosis, which is the cause of asbestosis. The body produces extra scar tissue as a result. Over time, the body’s defenses work to try to remove these irritating fibers. Many, however, make it into the lungs and lodge into its tissue. Some get caught in mucus and coughed out, while others break down naturally in the body. This disease takes years to develop, much like other asbestos-related medical concerns.Īs a person breathes in asbestos fibers, the body tries to expel them.

Asbestosis Is a Serious Concern for Those With High Levels of Asbestos ExposureĪsbestosis is a primary concern for people with high levels of asbestos exposure, according to the American Cancer Society. Over time, this inflexible tissue leads to obstructive disease, and the lungs lose function in the affected areas. These white areas are interstitial fibrosis, an irregular growth of excess fibrous tissue the body uses to repair the lungs. X-rays depicting lungs affected by asbestosis are very distinctive, with large white areas. This nickname likely stems from the appearance of the scarring that appears on x-rays. Over several decades, white lung can lead to serious respiratory failure. This scarring, when severe, can cause problems with respiratory function. Asbestosis is an asbestos-related medical condition where the lungs become damaged and scarred because of asbestos fibers. White lung is another name for asbestosis.

White out lung meaning