Signs of Radon Gas Poisoning

Radon is an odorless and invisible radioactive gas that can make way into your home through gaps and cracks, and thereby pose grave health risks. Those with weak immune system are more prone to develop serious health complications by inhaling this poisonous gas. One of the serious threats linked with radon gas inhalation is lung cancer. In fact, recent studies have highlighted the fact that radon gas inhalation kills nearly 20,000 individuals in the United States every year.

The irony lies in the fact that the signs of radon gas poisoning are not clearly obvious. Small amount of radon can be easily absorbed by our body without the presence of noticeable symptoms. Once inside the body, the radon breaks down into lead that penetrates into our lungs. Subsequently, one falls prey to lung cancer with passing days. Almost anyone out there can get affected by radon gas. Let’s have a look at the most common signs of radon gas poisoning that you should watch out for:

Respiratory Issues

Two of the most common respiratory issues that a person can develop due to radon gas inhalation are pneumonia and bronchitis. It’s a must to treat these conditions at the earliest because the conditions can worsen upon non treatment. The fact that radon gas affects our lungs, one can get severely prone to a host of other respiratory issues.

Coughing

Coughing is another common sign linked with radon gas poisoning. Most victims start off with mild coughing. Over a period of time, the coughing progresses to such a level that a person omits blood during the process.

Difficulty in Breathing

Difficulty in breathing is another warning sign associated with this condition. Poor functioning of the lungs is responsible for the discomfort a person experiences during breathing.

Decrease in Muscle Mass

Most victims also tend to lose muscle mass with every passing week. This in turn results into reduction in strength. Subsequently, a person may get tired pretty early even while performing day to day routine chores.

Paraneoplastic Symptoms

An individual may also experience a host of Paraneoplastic symptoms such as drastic weight loss, anemia, and unexplained rashes.

Chest Pain

Another common sign that should raise alarm bells over here is frequent occurrence of chest pain. The chest pain can get severe over a period of time.

Hoarse Voice

Development of hoarse voice should also serve as a potential indication of radon gas poisoning. Non-smokers should pay special heed to this sign because it’s very uncommon for them to develop hoarse voice, unless they are affected by some sort of ailment.

Radon gas affected person will experience one or combinations of the symptoms outlined above. Needless to say, the condition can get worse upon non-treatment, which is why one must seek medical attention as soon as possible. Experts reckon that one should take all kinds of necessary precautions to stay immune from the health hazards of radon gas. Testing your home and building for radon levels is an effective practice that should be followed over here.

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  1. Not one death certificate in the entire world states… cause of death… radon poisoning. We all have been breathing radon since we were born. Leonard Cole has it right.

    1. Idiot you know nothing about what you are talking about!! Living in Cornwall, where it is mostly granite beneath us. We are monitored yearly for levels. I know of seven people, two of which that are in my family who have passed away due to radon, detected way too late.

  2. Thankful I saw this. Have spent 2 yrs and thousands of dollars trying to figure out what's wrong with me. Doctors just tell me it’s not in their area of expertise. — Just had our home tested. Levels were 9.8 and 9.9 in the 2 basement level rooms. — A new theory to investigate: radon poisoning. Makes sense, since Hubby has similar symptoms but to a lesser degree. He works, I don't.

  3. This was a helpful article, but does not mention how much radon gas causes problems, but we know that at 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher we need to take action. We have measured slightly over the 6.5 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) with one room at 7. We plan to have a mitigation system installed soon.

  4. The article should indicate whether or not something shows up in blood testing (i.e, during an annual physical exam), and if so, which high or low level indicators would show up in the testing.

    1. I have been in buildings that have tested high for radon. Often when have been in such places for extended length of time I have passed out. Have asked doctors if it is from radon, they say they don’t know and never had any training on radon so they won’t study it. I do not drink, smoke or do drugs.

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