Chronic bronchitis

processing claims for over 50 years

Chronic bronchitis  video

Chronic bronchitis, a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) restricts the flow of air into the bronchial tubes and lungs. In 2016, more than 8.9 million people in the United States were diagnosed with chronic bronchitis. As we know, smoking cigarettes can lead to respiratory disorders such as chronic bronchitis, but what is baffling is that most people who end up developing this illness are nonsmokers. The culprits in such cases are toxic fumes and other air pollutants including asbestos, particularly in people who have been working in industries handling asbestos, for example, shipbuilding, power plants, and construction.

Asbestos Exposure

With a chronic bronchitis diagnosis alone, you are not eligible for compensation. But given the fact that the rate of misdiagnosis is high, and the cancer risk is high with asbestos exposure we strongly recommend you get a second and even third opinion outside the VA. If you are diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer you become eligible to file a claim and obtain financial compensation.

About 12 million people get diagnosed with COPD in the U.S. every year

A statistically significant number of cases of chronic bronchitis have been reported in people exposed to asbestos according to the results of several scientific studies. In a study conducted in Sweden, which included 316,729 construction workers, the death rate due to COPD was higher in workers exposed to asbestos by around two and a half times when compared to those who had not been exposed to the toxic substance. The Environmental Health Journal published a study in the year 2011, which reported that COPD due to occupational exposure to toxic fumes resulted in about 375,000 deaths worldwide in a year.

Although the connection between asbestos and COPD is not clearly defined yet, it has been shown that prolonged asbestos exposure increases the risk of developing COPD or worsen the disease. Studies suggest that people with COPD were more likely to die after being exposed to airborne asbestos at work.

Common signs and symptoms of chronic bronchitis and asbestos exposure

In individuals with chronic bronchitis, a persistent cough develops that is usually accompanied by mucus discharge. Other common symptoms include:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Tightness in the chest
  • Fatigue
  • Unintended weight loss

Legal assistance for asbestos exposure victims

If you were diagnosed with chronic bronchitis and had a job involving asbestos exposure or were exposed to asbestos in the military, you should get a second opinion because the misdiagnosis rate with asbestos-related diseases is very high. If you have an asbestos-related cancer diagnosis we will carefully evaluate your case to determine whether you qualify for filing a claim. However, to initiate the legal process, we will ask you to send our legal team your employment or military records, which you must retrieve, and your medical records clearly stating your cancer diagnosis.