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ASTM

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Atrophy

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Asymptomatic

Definition

• Asymptomatic means neither causing nor exhibiting symptoms of disease.

• Symptomatic means a physical indication (rash, pain, discomfort etc.) of disease or disorder. For example, red spots are symptomatic of measles and chest pain is symptomatic of a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

  Do not confuse "symptomatic" with the term systemic, which means spread throughout the body.

MSDS Relevance

Just because one does not display symptoms of a disease or chemical exposure does not necessarily mean that one does not have the disease or was not harmed. Certain symptoms might occur only 50% of the time...or not at all depending on the individual involved. In general, being asymptomatic is a good thing, but it is not a guarantee of health. Be alert for unusual changes in your health whenever you work with hazardous materials. Finally, realize that many different processes can cause the same symptoms. For example, chest pain is symptomatic of a heart attack, but it also indicates a bad case of heart burn. If you have the slightest doubt about the cause of a symptom, consult your physician or hospital emergency room.

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Further Reading

• Symptomatic at the NIH's MedLine Plus Medical Encyclopedia.
• Symptomatic Treatment at Wikipedia.

See also: inhalation.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is believed to be true and accurate, however ILPI makes no guarantees concerning the veracity of any statement. Use of any information on this page is at the reader's own risk. ILPI strongly encourages the reader to consult the appropriate local, state and federal agencies concerning the matters discussed herein.