Overview

Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition of the lungs caused by damage and loss of lung tissue. This thick, tight tissue makes your lung function more difficult. As your lung fibrosis progresses, you may have difficulty breathing.

Different types of variables contribute to scarring associated with pulmonary fibrosis. On the other hand, doctors often do not identify the cause of the condition. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a disorder that occurs without the knowledge of etiology.

Although lung damage caused by pulmonary fibrosis cannot be reversed, medications and treatments can help reduce symptoms and improve the overall quality of life. Some patients may require a lung transplant.

Features

Some of the signs and symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are as follows:

• Dyspnea
• Dry cough
• Fatigue
• Weight loss is not described
• Muscles and joints hurt
• Fingers or toes wide and rounded (clubbing)

The progression of pulmonary fibrosis, as well as the severity of symptoms, can vary greatly from person to person. Some people get sick very quickly from serious diseases. Others have mild symptoms that progress gradually over months or years.

In some patients, their symptoms may be sudden (severe exacerbation), such as severe shortness of breath, which may last for days or weeks. A mechanical ventilator can be used to help people with severe irritations. Doctors may prescribe antibiotics, corticosteroid medications, and other medications to treat the infection.

The reason

As a result of pulmonary fibrosis, the tissue around and between the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs becomes scarred and thickened. As a result, it becomes more difficult for oxygen to enter your bloodstream. Prolonged exposure to certain chemicals, certain medical disorders, radiation therapy, and certain medications can cause harm, among other things.

Issues related to work and the environment

Chronic exposure to a variety of chemicals and pollutants can damage the lungs. Here are some of them:

• Silica sand
• Asbestos fibers
• Hard metal dust
• Coal ash
• Grain dust
• Drops from birds and animals
• Treatment using ionizing radiation

Some people who receive radiation therapy for lung or ****** cancer may have lung damage for several months, if not months, after treatment. The extent of the damage can be determined by:

• How many lungs were removed?
• The amount of radiation given
• Whether chemotherapy is also used or not
• Whether there is an underlying pulmonary problem

Risk factors

The following factors may contribute to pulmonary fibrosis:

Age. Although pulmonary fibrosis is found in young people and infants, it is more common in middle-aged and older people.

Gender. Men have a higher risk of developing idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis than women.

Smoking. Smokers and former smokers are more likely to develop pulmonary fibrosis than non-smokers. Pulmonary fibrosis develops in patients with emphysema.

Some profession. If you work in mining, agriculture, or construction, or are exposed to toxins that damage your lungs, you are more likely to develop pulmonary fibrosis.

Cancer treatment. The use of certain chemotherapy drugs or radiation treatments for the chest may increase the risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis.

There are some genetic considerations.

Implications

Pulmonary fibrosis can cause a variety of problems, including:

In your lungs, you have high blood pressure (pulmonary hypertension). Unlike systemic hypertension, this disease specifically affects the arteries in your lungs. It begins when scar tissue narrows the tiny arteries and capillaries in your lungs, creating greater resistance to blood flow.

As a result, the pressure in the pulmonary arteries and lower right heart chamber (right ventricle) is increased. Some types of pulmonary hypertension are life-threatening conditions that worsen over time and can even be fatal.

Right-side heart failure (core pulmonale). When the lower right chamber of your heart (ventricle) needs to be pumped harder than usual to move blood through the partially clogged pulmonary arteries, you have this dangerous disease.

Lung failure. It is often the last stage of chronic pulmonary disease. This happens when the level of oxygen in the blood drops dangerously.

Lung cancer. Lung cancer is also more likely if you have been suffering from pulmonary fibrosis for a long time.

Lung Problems Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by blood clots in the lungs, pulmonary embolism, and lung infections as the disease progresses.