7 Non-Cancerous Diseases Related to Asbestos Exposure

5. Diffuse Pleural Thickening

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Diffuse pleural thickening is a condition that causes lesions on the pleura, making it thicker. It occurs in five to 13.5 percent of people exposed to asbestos and can be diagnosed only a year after exposure —  but diagnoses is made more commonly 15 to 30 years later. Official diagnosis is confirmed when there is a thickening of 1/4 of the pleura and it causes a decrease in patients’ lung function. Diffuse pleural thickening is usually not life-threatening, but it can be fatal in cases when the pleura is so thick that airflow becomes compromised.

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Marta graduated from Universidade Fernando Pessoa in Porto with a degree in Communication Sciences and a Masters degree in New Communication Technologies. She has experience in social media, worked with several media channels, and has also worked as a freelance photographer and a graphic artist for almost 10 years.

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