Ethics and Environmental Health

Here are 11 tips for taking care of yourself if you have Asbestos Exposure or an Asbestos Related Disease.

1. Get regular checkups. See your primary care physician periodically.
Your doctor or health care provider will want to monitor your condition on a regular basis.
Be sure to get your influenza (once a year) and pneumonia vaccines (every five years) as needed.
Make a list of questions or concerns you may want to speak to your doctor about and take it with you on your next visit.

2. Stay away from smoke and smokers. If you are a smoker, this is a good time to stop.
Being around smoke increases your risk of respiratory problems and cancer. Smokers are 10 times more likely to develop lung cancer than non-smokers. Asbestos and smoking increases the risk of lung cancer even more. Quitting smoking can reduce the risk of lung cancer significantly.
Place a "Please no smoking" sign on your front door. Most people will respect your wishes and either refrain from smoking or go outside to smoke.

There are many web sites to help you with quitting smoking. The following are just a few...
http://www.yourlunghealth.org/stop_smoking/
http://www.lungusa.org/

3. Wash your hands often. Respiratory infections can be a serious complication. Stay away from crowds and people with colds or the flu.
Keep some antibacterial wipes in your purse and/or car. If you absolutely can not stay away from crowds or someone with a cold or flu, wear a scarf or surgical mask to protect yourself.
4. Keep a diary of when you have trouble breathing and what you were doing just beforehand.
Include the date and time, the type of trouble you had, how bad it was, etc. This will help you recognize and avoid triggers that make you have more trouble breathing.
A diary can be very helpful in determining the causes of some breathing difficulties. It is also helpful to take it with you when you visit your doctor.

5. Check air quality index (293-5645) Stay indoors when air pollutants or pollen counts are high. Keep dust in the home and yard to a minimum.
Improve the indoor air quality in your home by having air filters replaced often in your home. Mats at the door and keeping doors and window closed help keep dust to a minimum.
Wear a dust mask when necessary, such as when you clean your fireplace, etc.

6. Avoid breathing paint fumes or aerosols such as oven cleaner.
Things that may cause problems include aerosol sprays and products that produce fumes such as paint, kerosene and cleaning agents.

There are many web sites that offer recipes for nontoxic household cleaners. Here is one:
Nontoxic household cleaners

7. Eat a healthy diet. Eat small frequent meals rather than 3 large meals a day.
A well balanced diet helps you to have energy, to maintain your muscle mass, and to prevent anemias that might keep your body from being able to transport oxygen to your body more effectively. If you have breathing difficulties, small frequent meals might be more tolerable than three big meals a day because they cause less of the stomach distention that might tend to make you short of breath after meals.

http://www.lincare.com/patientedu/eat.html

8. Drink plenty of fluids. This will help you cough up secretions and reduce the risk of infection.
To help hydrate your system limit caffeinated beverages and drink 8-10 glasses of liquid per day. This is important so that the secretions don't pool in your lungs and increase the risk of infection.
9. Get a balance of rest and exercise. Ask your doctor what would be best.
Get 7 or 8 hours of sleep every night and take several short rests during the day. This should be balanced with some type of exercise everyday - consult with your health care provider on exercises that would help you to maintain the best breathing capacity.
10. Recognize the signs of depression and get help, talk to a friend, or join our support group.
Some of the signs of depression are:

1. A depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day. Sometimes in children or adults it may be an irritated or cranky mood.
2. Less interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities most of the day, nearly every day.
3. Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
4. Feelings of restlessness or feeling slowed down.
5. Sleepy or loss of energy nearly every day.
6. Feelings of worthlessness nearly every day.
7. Is hard to concentrate or you feel indecisiveness nearly every day.
8. Repeatedly have thoughts of death or suicide with or without a specific plan.

11. Call your health care provider if any of these signs occur:

Fever
Increased coughing, wheezing or difficulty breathing
Chest pain
Changes in mucus such as thicker, a different color, or a foul odor
Stuffy nose, sneezing or sore throat
Increased fatigue or weakness
Weight gain or loss of more than six pounds in a week
Swollen ankles or feet

Call your doctor....

1. When there is an increase or decrease in amount of sputum:

a. When sputum is a new color
b. When there is more or less mucous
c. If sputum is blood-tinged
d. If there is a change in thickness of sputum

2. If you experience an inability to lie down to sleep or need more than one pillow.

3. If treatments do not seem to help, such as:

a. When you have increased shortness of breath or wheezing
b. When you notice extreme fatigue or unusual drowsiness
c. When you have difficulty in remembering, especially recent events

4. If you notice swelling in your ankles

Important:
If you experience any other discomforts or symptoms which are not listed here, but are of concern to you-
Call your doctor!