Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Diagnosis of Asbestosis

Firstly, your GP will find out about your history of exposure to asbestos, in particular whether you have been exposed to large quantities or over a long period of time.

Breathlessness is a key symptom that will help your doctor to diagnose asbestosis. When holding a stethoscope to the chest, your GP may be able to detect a crackling sound as you breathe.

Lung function tests may be carried out to check for:

• scarring (fibrosis) of the lungs,
• a reduction in the amount of air that is breathed in and out, and
• how well the lungs work to take in oxygen and get rid of carbon dioxide.

A chest X-ray or CT scan may be taken as part of this investigation. It may also be necessary to carry out a biopsy, where a small sample of tissue from the lung is taken for examination.

Other lung conditions such as lung cancer will need to be ruled out as part of the diagnosis.

• AbortionAbscessAccident and emergency departmentsAccidents and first aidAccidents to children in the homeAcneAcoustic neuromaActinomycosisAcupunctureAddictionsAddison's diseaseAdenoids and adenoidectomyAgoraphobiaAir embolismAlcohol misuseAllergiesAltitude sicknessAlzheimer's diseaseAmbulance ServiceAmniocentesisAmniotomyAmoebiasisAnaemiaAnaesthesiaAnaesthetic, generalAnaesthetic, localAnal fissureAnal fistulaAnaphylaxisAndrogen insensitivity syndromeAneurysmAnginaAngioedemaAngiographyAnkylosing spondylitisAnorexia nervosaAntacid drugsAntenatal careAntenatal screeningAnti-inflammatories, non-steroidalAnticoagulant drugsAntidepressant drugsAntifungal drugsAntihistamine drugsAnxietyAphasiaApnoeaAppendicitisArthritisArthroscopyArtificial inseminationAsbestosisAspergillosisAsthmaAstigmatismAtherosclerosisAthlete's footAtrial fibrillationAttention deficit hyperactivity disorderAutism

  ---