Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition characterized by scarring of the lung, called fibrosis. Over time, the lungs may become stiffer, making breathing difficult, resulting in symptoms such as shortness of breath, dry cough, and excessive fatigue.
This often occurs as a result of prolonged exposure to occupational dust, such as silica and asbestos, for example, or due to smoking, autoimmune diseases or the side effect of prolonged use of certain medications. However, in some cases, the cause of pulmonary fibrosis cannot be identified and is now called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Pulmonary fibrosis cannot be cured because this damage to the lungs cannot be repaired.
- But the disease can be controlled and symptoms are alleviated by the practice of respiratory physiotherapy and medications that may be indicated by the pneumologist.
At first, pulmonary fibrosis has no signs or symptoms, however as the disease progresses some symptoms may be noticed, the main being:
The severity and speed of symptoms can vary from person to person, including the cause, and usually change over months or even years.
In case of suspected pulmonary fibrosis, the pneumologist will order tests such as CT scans, which evaluate the presence of changes in lung tissue, spirometry, which measures the functional capacity of the lungs, and other tests, such as blood tests, that exclude other diseases. , like pneumonia. If in doubt, a lung biopsy may also be performed.
It is important not to confuse pulmonary fibrosis with cystic fibrosis, which is an inherited disease, which occurs in children, in which certain glands produce abnormal secretions that mainly affect the digestive and respiratory tracts. Learn how to identify and treat cystic fibrosis.
Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis should be guided by a pneumologist and generally includes medications with antifibrotic properties, such as pyrfenidone or nintedanib, corticosteroids, such as prednisone, and medications that reduce immune system response, such as cyclosporine or methotrexate, and may relieve some symptoms. or delay the progression of the disease.
Physical therapy is critical for pulmonary rehabilitation, which performs scheduled exercises to improve a person’s respiratory capacity, which remains more active and has fewer symptoms.
In addition, in the most severe cases, your doctor may also recommend using oxygen at home to help increase blood oxygenation. The disease can become very serious for some people, and in these cases, a lung transplant may be indicated.
Learn more about treating pulmonary fibrosis
Although a specific cause of pulmonary fibrosis is not determined, the risk of developing the disease is higher for people who:
In addition, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can be passed down from parent to child, and genetic counseling is recommended if there are many cases of disease in the family.