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Important Things one should know about Pulmonary Disease

Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious and chronic lung disease. It usually refers to scarring (fibrosis) of the lung tissue. It is a progressive lung disease in which the tiny air sacs in the lungs (also known as the alveoli) become scarred and stiff. It makes breathing difficult and to get enough oxygen into the bloodstream. With time, scar tissue can destroy the normal lung and can cause low oxygen levels. Patients with the pulmonary condition can feel shortness of breath, mainly while walking and exercising. To diagnose pulmonary disease, a pulmonologist in Vadodara performs a thorough medical examination of the patient to identify the potential exposures or other health conditions that might lead to scarring of the lung.

What are the common symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis?

Many types of lung disease can lead to pulmonary disease. Thus, it is advisable to visit Baroda chest hospital to see a pulmonologist to make the right diagnosis and the right treatment. Some most common symptoms are-

  • Dry cough
  • Shallow and fast breathing
  •  Shortness of breath or discomfort while breathing
  • Decreased exercise tolerance
  • Tiredness and sudden weight loss
  • Joint or muscular discomfort
  • Widening and rounding of fingers or toes

What are the causes of pulmonary fibrosis?

Pulmonary fibrosis or lung scarring makes it difficult for oxygen to pass into a patient’s bloodstream. The damage to the lungs can be caused due to various factors. Sometimes long-term exposure to some specific toxins, radiation therapy and some medications can cause lung scarring. The most common causes of the pulmonary disease include-

Environmental factors – Best pulmonary doctors consider that long-term exposure to various toxins such as silica dust, hard metal dust, grain dust, asbestos fibers, coal dust, droppings of birds and animals can be the reason for lung scarring.

Radiation therapy - Some people who undergo radiation treatment for lung or breast cancer can have the signs of lung damage months or sometimes years after the initial treatment. If the lung was exposed to high radiation, it can cause pulmonary disease.

Medication- Some medications may have side effects and can damage your lungs. Chemotherapy drugs such as methotrexate (Trexall, Otrexup and others) and cyclophosphamide, heart medications such as such as amiodarone (Nexterone, Cordarone and Pacerone), anti-inflammatory such as rituximab (Rituxan) or sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), antibiotics such as nitrofurantoin ( Macrodantin, Macrobid and others) or ethambutol can damage lungs.

Medical conditions- Dermatomyositis, Scleroderma, Polymyositis, Sarcoidosis, Mixed connective tissue disease, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Pneumonia, Rheumatoid arthritis can be the reason for lung disease. In other rare cases, genetics may affect some patients to get lung disorders

      What are the stages of pulmonary fibrosis? 

Pulmonary fibrosis is categorized as mild (recently diagnosed), moderate (some oxygen is needed while doing some exercise or physical activity but not at rest, severe (oxygen needed 24 hours), and very severe (high-flow oxygen is required). A y detects a patient’s pulmonary disease stage depending on the severity of the symptoms and their lung capacity. As the fibrosis progresses, patients lose lung capacity and in severe stages, they may not be able to breathe without oxygen support.

How quickly does pulmonary fibrosis develop?

Pulmonary fibrosis disease progression is different from person to person. Some patients progress slowly and live with mild to moderate for many years. There is no permanent cure for pulmonary fibrosis, but treatments at pulmonologist care hospital can slow the progression of the disease in some people. You must visit a pulmonologist doctor if you are experiencing shortness of breath and dry cough for a prolonged time. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be helpful to manage your lung disease.

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