
What Are The Consequences Of Inhaling Silica?

Need to know few more things.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Thanks for your question on HCM. I can understand your situation and problem.
I need to know few more things about you.
1. Do you smoke?
2. Do you have any symptoms at present? Like coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath etc
3. Are you suffering from any lung disease?
Silica exposure can lead to complications as follow.
1. Acute complications like acute silicosis, acute bronchitis etc.
2. Chronic complications like chronic silicosis, tuberculosis, lung cancer, fibrosis etc.
And chances of all these complications are more if you are smoker or having underlying lung disease.
If you are asymptomatic at present then no need to worry much for silica exposure you had. And if you are non smoker and not having any underlying lung disease then no need to worry for lung cancer or silicosis.
But better to consult pulmonologist and get done
1. Chest x ray
2. PFT (pulmonary function test ) to rule out sillica induced damage.
If both are negative then no need to worry for chronic, long term complications of silica exposure like silicosis and lung cancer.
So let me know answers of above asked questions, So that I can guide you further.
I will be happy to help you further.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.


I will take your advice in performing these tests with a pulmonologist. Is it possible to find out if I have silica induced damage so soon or would I have to wait a while?
Consult pulmonologist.
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear,
Thanks for your follow up question.
You should consult pulmonologist and get done chest X ray and PFT to rule out acute complications like acute bronchitis and acute silicosis.
And chronic complications like chronic silicosis and lung cancer seen after 3-5 years. And they are seen mostly with chronic, sustained exposure. And chances are high if person is smoker or having underlying lung disease.
Since both these factors are absent in your case, no need to worry for chronic complications.
So at present pulmonologist consultation is needed to rule out acute complications.
And no need to worry for chronic complications.
Hope I have solved your query.
If you are not having further queries, please close the conversation and rate the answer.
You can ask me directly on bit.ly/askdrkaushalbhavsar.
Wish you good health.
Thanks.

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