What causes emphysema?

Emphysema is usually suffered by people who have smoked for many years and/or have been exposed to asbestos or industrial dust. Both of these factors act as long-term irritants.

Asbestos becomes dangerous once it has been broken down into particles, or fibres, that are small enough to become airborne. Asbestos particles are not easily destroyed or degraded, so their inhalation is extremely dangerous, as once deposited in the lung they will remain there.

Asbestos particles are often deposited in the bronchial tree as they are too large to pass through the smaller branches of the tree. The bronchial tree is the collection of air tubes leading from the trachea to the lungs that convey air to and from the lungs.

This leads to irritation and air becoming trapped in the large air sacs that have been created by collapsed bronchioles. Sufferers find it easy to breathe in but not to exhale, and over the years a barrel shaped chest is developed due to the excess air trapped in the lungs.

Unfortunately for emphysema sufferers, the disease is often in its late stages before it is detected. The symptoms of coughing and shortness of breath are sometimes put down to old age. Sufferers find it easy to breathe in but not to exhale, as air is trapped in the large air sacs that have been created by collapsed bronchioles. This creates a barrel shaped chest over the years due to the excess air trapped in the lungs.

Other diseases attributable to exposure to asbestos dust are mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural plaques, pleural thickening and types of lung cancer.

Emphysema is incurable and will eventually prove fatal for the majority of sufferers. However, compensation is available to people who can prove that they have contracted the disease as a result of working with asbestos at an earlier stage in their life.

Make a hassle-free compensation claim for emphysema
At YouClaim we want to help you achieve compensation for the suffering caused by emphysema. If you have contracted the disease through your employers’ negligence then it is highly likely that YouClaim can help you. It will not cost you anything to pursue a personal injury claim with us as our panel of solicitors work on a no win, no fee basis.

In addition, we won’t charge you for costs or fees at any time, regardless of whether your claim is a success or not.

We will assess your claim and put together the supporting evidence, referring you to an independent medical expert. Your no win, no fee solicitor will then talk you through each stage of the claims process and provide you with free legal advice.

Please call YouClaim for free on 0800 10 757 95 if you wish to pursue a claim for your emphysema. Alternatively, fill in our online claim form or chat to us online and we will assess your claim and call you back.