Pulmonary Fibrosis
What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis is part of a large group of lung diseases called interstitial lung disease (ILD) that cause scarring of the lungs. Scarring of the lungs is called fibrosis; it makes the lungs thick and stiff, which makes breathing difficult.
In This Article:
Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis
In most cases, there’s no clear cause of pulmonary fibrosis. This is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
In other cases, pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by a mix of environmental and genetic factors:
- Smoking – smoking cigarettes can increase the risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis
- Disease – some people can develop pulmonary fibrosis from other diseases. These include autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, viral infections, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Exposure – exposure to hazardous materials like asbestos and silica, as well as bird or animal droppings, can cause pulmonary fibrosis
- Family history –familial pulmonary fibrosis is very rare. If two or more members of your family have idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, it can increase your chances of developing it. If there is any family history of lung disease in your family, it’s important to tell your healthcare provider
Diagnosing Pulmonary Fibrosis
Some symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis can be similar to other lung diseases, like COPD. These symptoms include shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue and unintended weight loss. So if you are experiencing any worrying symptoms, it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider to get the right diagnosis, so that you can get the right treatment.
A diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis usually starts with a physical exam. Your provider will listen to your lungs for a crackling sound, which could be a sign of pulmonary fibrosis. Your providermay also order a pulmonary function test. A pulmonary function test is one way to identifyif you are living with a lung disease, including pulmonary fibrosis.
An imaging test, like a chest x-ray or CT scan, can also show your provider whether there is any scarring on your lungs.
Treating Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis can’t be cured, but there are treatments to improve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. These include:
- Medications –some medications can reduce inflammation or slow down the rate of scarring in the lungs. Other medications can treat acid reflux or cough
- Oxygen therapy – oxygen therapy can make it easier for you to breathe. You may be prescribed oxygen therapy when you sleep, exercise, or for all-day use
- Pulmonary rehabilitation – pulmonary rehab can help improve your day-to-day functioning through exercise, nutrition, breathing exercises and counseling
- Lung transplant – some people with pulmonary fibrosis may be eligible for a lung transplant. Your healthcare provider will be able to tell you whether you are eligible
How Pulmonary Fibrosis Affects COPD
It’s possible to have COPD and pulmonary fibrosis at the same time. Both diseases make breathing difficult and reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood. If you have both COPD and pulmonary fibrosis, you are likely to experience more shortness of breath.
Typical rescue or relief inhalers for COPD are not helpful for pulmonary fibrosis, so you may be prescribed some medications specific for pulmonary fibrosis. Aside from this, many of the treatments for pulmonary fibrosis are similar to COPD: it is important to increase your physical activity, do structured exercise such as pulmonary rehab, and wear your oxygen as prescribed.
What You Can Do Today
- Keep track of any changes in your symptoms in your COPD Action Plan
- Use all medications as prescribed
- Talk to your healthcare provider to coordinate your medications, as some medications for pulmonary fibrosis can cause stomach issues
- Do structured exercise like pulmonary rehab
- Consider joining support groups for pulmonary fibrosis
Resources
https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/pulmonary-fibrosis