Your Doctor is Your Health Partner

Work with your doctor to help manage asbestos-related symptoms:

Follow your doctor’s instructions on taking your medicines, oxygen therapy, and chest physiotherapy.

Make an effort to prevent infection.

Do not try to treat yourself. Over-the-counter cold remedies might worsen the problem. Do not use them unless your doctor says it is okay.

Get a regular chest x-ray to help screen for cancer associated with asbestos exposure.

Call your doctor if any of the following signs occur:

Fever

Increased wheezing, persistent coughing, or difficulty breathing

Changes in mucus (mucus is thicker; either more or less mucus is present than usual; mucus has a foul odor; or mucus is green, yellow, brown, pink, or red)

Stuffy nose, sneezing, or sore throat

Increased fatigue or weakness

Weight gain or loss of more than six pounds within a week Swollen ankles or feet