To understand if you’re eligible for a dust disease claim you will first need to be diagnosed with a chronic lung condition. You may experience shortness of breath, coughing and irritation of your eyes, nose and throat that can all be symptoms of a dust disease.
Unfortunately, the longer you breathe in the dust, the greater chance it will severely affect your health. Additionally, those with existing respiratory and heart conditions, like asthma or high blood pressure, and smokers have an even greater risk of developing severe dust disease, according to the Department of Health of Western Australia.
If you believe you have been exposed to harmful dust, especially while at work, and develop these symptoms, it’s crucial to contact your doctor for further testing. If you feel existing conditions – like a cough caused by smoking – has gotten worse and is accompanied by additional symptoms, a medical professional can determine if you have dust disease or are experiencing a side effect of smoking.