overview
- Illustration of pulmonary fibrosis
- Pulmonary Fibrosis Open the pop-up dialog box
- Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that occurs when lung tissue is damaged and scarred. This thickened and stiff tissue makes it difficult for your lungs to function properly. As the pulmonary fibrosis worsens you will gradually become short of breath.
- Scars associated with pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by a variety of factors. However, in most cases, doctors cannot pinpoint the cause of the problem. If no cause can be found, it is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Lung damage from pulmonary fibrosis cannot be fixed, but medications and therapies can sometimes help relieve symptoms and improve quality of life. A lung transplant may be appropriate for some people. Fibrosis, pulmonary treatment in Hyderabad
symptom
Signs and symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis can include:
- Shortness of breath (difficulty breathing)
- A dry cough
- Tired
- Inexplicable weight loss
- Muscle and joint pain
- Widening and rounding of the fingertips or toes (baton)
The reasons
Pulmonary fibrosis heals and thickens the tissue around and between the air sacs (alveoli) of your lungs. This makes it harder for oxygen to get through your bloodstream. Damage can be caused by many different factors – including long-term exposure to certain toxins, certain medical conditions, radiation therapy, and certain drugs.
Professional and environmental factors
Long-term exposure to a number of toxins and pollutants can damage your lungs. These include:
- Fumed silica
- Asbestos fibers
- Hard metal dust
Risk factors
\Some of the factors that make you more prone to developing pulmonary fibrosis include:
- Age. Although pulmonary fibrosis has been diagnosed in children and infants, the disorder is much more likely to affect middle-aged and elderly adults.
- Sex. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is more likely to affect men than women.
- Smoke. Much more smokers and former smokers develop pulmonary fibrosis than people who have never smoked. Pulmonary fibrosis can occur in patients with emphysema.
- Certain professions. You are at an increased risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis if you work in mining, agriculture, or construction, or if you are exposed to pollutants known to damage your lungs. Fibrosis, pulmonary treatment in Hyderabad
Complications
Complications of pulmonary fibrosis can include:
- Pulmonary arterial hypertension (pulmonary hypertension). Unlike systemic high blood pressure, this condition only affects the arteries in your lungs. It starts when the smallest arteries and capillaries are squeezed together by scar tissue, which increases the resistance to blood flow in your lungs.
- This in turn increases the pressure in the pulmonary arteries and the lower right chamber of the heart (right ventricle). Some forms of pulmonary hypertension are serious diseases that can get progressively worse and sometimes be fatal.
- Right heart failure (cor pulmonale). This serious condition occurs when the lower right chamber of your heart (ventricle) has to pump harder than usual to move blood through partially clogged pulmonary arteries. Fibrosis, pulmonary treatment in Hyderabad