Help for Veterans: Mountain Home Medical Center 

The contact information for Mountain Home VA Medical Center is P.O. Box 4000 Mountain Home, TN 37684 Phone: (423) 926-1171.  The Center provides healthcare services for veterans.

There are certain individuals who are more easily injured by exposure to asbestos. Primarily, there are some questions one should ask to figure out if asbestos exposure is an issue. These are: Do you think you have had prolonged exposure to asbestos? Are you an immediate family member of someone who has worked in asbestos-related industries? Have you worked somewhere where asbestos insulation was used? Is it possible your exposure to asbestos was in the form of a "burst exposure" (a very heavy concentration) to asbestos for short periods of time? If any of your answers to these questions were affirmative, you may wish to discuss this with your health-care provider.

In general, there is a group of diseases that have been linked to asbestos exposure: Asbestosis (a serious, chronic, non cancerous fibrous hardening and scarring of the lungs), mesothelioma (a cancer of the thin membranes lining the thoracic and abdominal cavities and surrounding internal organs), pleural plaque and thickening (scarring of the lining of the lung) and lung cancer. The warning signs of asbestos-related diseases are coughing, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain and weight loss. Unfortunately, the detectable symptoms of asbestos exposure can appear up to 25 years after primary exposure. Annual or even semi-annual asbestos detection tests are recommended.

It is imperative to seek a professional opinion if you imagine that you have been exposed to asbestos. The usual mode of testing is an x-ray (side and front view of your chest.) Extra tests may include a pulmonary function test, blood work, a CT scan and/or biopsy.

Often, doctors speak a language puzzling to the average person. You should not hesitate to ask your doctor about your situation. If you don't fully understand your doctor, ask her to explain it in a way that you can better comprehend. 

If you or someone you love has developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, we can help.  Your time is limited to file an asbestos lawsuit, so contact us today for a FREE evaluation of your case.  The form below starts the process.

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