Posted on October 14, 2013

October Nation Health Literacy

Save a Life from Asbestos Exposure during Health Literacy Month

It’s Health Literacy Month, and at the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) that means saving lives through raising awareness. Everyone should know the Irrefutable Facts about how to protect your loved ones from asbestos exposure because the only two ways to end asbestos-caused diseases are prevention and a cure. Asbestos is still legal and lethal in the U.S., and you may have it in your home, school or office.

In part one, we blogged about prevention methods and Health Literacy Hero Clarence Borel. This week, we highlight high risk occupations. Take a few moments today to read the important facts below, then “Be a Health Literacy Hero,” and share this blog with your social networks.

Occupations with a high risk of asbestos exposure include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Workers involved in the manufacture of asbestos products
  • Asbestos mining and milling
  • Construction trades (including insulators, sheet metal workers, electricians, plumbers, pipe fitters, and carpenters)
  • Power plant workers
  • Boilermakers
  • Shipyard workers
  • Firefighters
  • Teachers
  • Veterans

Asbestos disease occurs 10 – 50 years after exposure.  You could show symptoms as an adult if you were exposed as a child to a parent who came home with asbestos dust on his or her clothing. Early symptoms are generally vague and can be confused with other illnesses, such as pneumonia. If you are concerned that you might be experiencing asbestos disease symptoms, talk to your doctor about possible occupational or environmental asbestos exposure.  Only a doctor can properly diagnose asbestos-related diseases.

To access more information about symptoms, refer to the  National Cancer Institute’s “Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk” Fact Sheet and visit us again October 28 for our third Health Literacy Month blog: Early Warning Symptoms.

In unity,

Linda Reinstein

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