WHAT IS PULMONARY FIBROSIS? Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease that causes scarring and damages in the lung tissue thus making it difficult for the lungs to work well. The tissues in the lungs become thickened and makes one become short of breath. At times, doctors are able to find out the cause of the disease but in most of the cases, the cause is not known. There is no repair for the lung damage caused by the disease, but using medications and therapy will help in the alleviation of the symptoms, thus improving the quality of life of the patient. SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES OF PULMONARY FIBROSIS The symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis vary from one person to the other. While some people’s case might progress slowly over a period of time, others can be hit severely with the disease and become very ill fast.
The symptoms include the following:
Shortness of breath especially during exercise
Dry cough
Gradual loss of weight
Fast and shallow breathing
Exhaustion
Painful joints and muscles
Wide and round appearance of the tips of the fingers and toes known as clubbing
The disease can be caused by a number of factors which includes the following:
Smoking
Long-term exposure to pollutants in the environment like metal, wood dust, silica, bacteria, gases and fumes. During the course of work of Fire Fighters, they are exposed to chemicals and other substances that are damaging to their lungs over the course of time. Some aspects of their work especially the knock-down and overhaul stages of a fire expose them to high risk of exposure to pollutants.
Viral infections
Medications
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition that causes the acid from your stomach to go up in your throat. Breathing in some drops of these acids can cause the disease. Genetics DIAGNOSES AND TREATMENT OF PULMONARY FIBROSIS A physical examination is done by a doctor. Questions are then asked to find out if you smoke the nature of your job, the medical history of your family, your history of drug use and other medical conditions. Other tests will then be carried out to determine if you have the condition. Pulmonary fibrosis has no cure. The existing treatments are done to help you cope with the symptoms and inhibit further scarring of the lungs so that you can be healthy and lead an active life. The available treatments include the following Medication: your doctor will determine the medication you will receive for treatment. Medications include antibiotics like nitrofurantoin and ethambuto; anti-inflammatory drugs like sulfasalazine and rituximab; and chemotherapy drugs like methotrexate. Oxygen therapy: If the oxygen in your blood is low, you will need to breathe through an oxygen mask. Pulmonary rehabilitation: This has to do with exercises and manage your condition properly. Lung transplant: If the other treatments are not helping your condition, you will be considered for a lung transplant. COPING WITH PULMONARY FIBROSIS Pulmonary fibrosis gets worse with the passage of time, therefore you need to learn all you can about it. This way you and your loved ones will be able to cope better with the disease as it progresses over time. You can also join a support group of people with the same condition. This will be helpful as you will be in the company of people who understand what you are going through. View More