Pulmonary Fibrosis - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Pulmonary fibrosis is a respiratory disorder due to the formation of scar tissue in the lungs. This condition will cause the lungs to not function normally.

This abnormal lung function will cause a person to experience shortness of breath, even when only doing light activities, such as walking or wearing clothes.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that worsens slowly and is not contagious. This condition can be caused by various factors and can be experienced by anyone, but it is more common in adults and the elderly.

Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is caused by scar tissue that forms inside the lungs. There are several factors that can trigger the formation of scar tissue, including:

Work environment

Harmful chemical particles, such as asbestos fibers, coal dust, and metal dust, pose a risk of damaging the lungs if exposed for a long time. These chemical particles can be found in mining, agriculture, and building construction areas.

Certain diseases

Pulmonary fibrosis can develop from several diseases, such as pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and sarcoidosis.

Certain drugs

Some types of drugs can damage lung tissue, such as chemotherapy drugs (methotrexate and cyclophosphamide), heart disease drugs (amiodarone), antibiotics (nitrofurantoin and ethambutol), and anti-inflammatory drugs (rituximab and sulfasalazine).

Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy or radiotherapy which is generally given to treat cancer is at risk of damaging the lungs, especially if it is done for a long time. Symptoms of lung damage can be seen within months to years after the patient is exposed to radiation.

In addition to some of the causes above, there are also factors that can increase a person's risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis, namely:

• Age and gender

  Most people with pulmonary fibrosis are people between the ages of 40-70 years. However, this condition can also be experienced by infants and children. Pulmonary fibrosis is also more common in men than women.

• Smoking habit

  The risk of active smokers or people who have smoked to develop pulmonary fibrosis is higher than people who have never smoked at all.

• heredity

  Pulmonary fibrosis can run in families. In some cases, people with pulmonary fibrosis are known to have family members who also suffer from this disease.

Symptoms of Pulmonary Fibrosis

The main symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are shortness of breath and cough. In addition, there are some additional symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis, namely:

• Tired quickly
• Muscle and joint pain
• Weight loss
• The tips of the fingers and toes are bluish

Symptoms experienced will develop slowly until more than 6 months.

When hcurrent to dokter

Every worker who is at risk of exposure to harmful particles, such as silica dust or asbestos fibers, needs to have regular check-ups with the doctor regularly, usually once a year, depending on company policy. In addition, these workers must also wear personal protective equipment to prevent damage to the lungs.

Immediately consult a doctor if you have a cough for more than 3 weeks, let alone shortness of breath. This condition requires special treatment from a doctor.

Diagnosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis

After asking the patient's symptoms and medical history, the doctor will use a stethoscope to examine the sounds in the lungs. Doctors may also perform additional tests to confirm the presence of pulmonary fibrosis, including:

• Imaging test

  Imaging is done with a chest X-ray, CT scan, or MRI, to check the condition and structure of the lungs.

• Lung function test

  This test can be done by spirometry, oximetry, and blood gas analysis, to check the performance of the lungs and the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide gases in the blood.

• Biopsy

  This procedure is performed to confirm the diagnosis and detect the severity of pulmonary fibrosis, through examination of lung tissue samples.

In addition to blood gas analysis, blood tests are also performed to check the function of other organs, such as the kidneys and liver, and to detect infections. Because the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are similar to those of heart disease, your doctor may perform a heart echo and a treadmill EKG to check heart function

Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment

The doctor will determine the type of pulmonary fibrosis treatment based on its severity. Treatments that can be done for pulmonary fibrosis are:

• Giving obat

  Doctors will give to inhibit the development of pulmonary fibrosis. The types of drugs given are: prednisone, azathioprine, pirfenidone, and nintedanib.

• Supplemental oxygen

  Oxygen is given to prevent the body from being deprived of oxygen, as well as to improve sleep quality.

• Rehabilitation paru

  Pulmonary rehabilitation is done by practicing physical endurance and breathing techniques to improve the work of the lungs, so that it will relieve symptoms.

• Transplant paru

  Lung transplantation is done when the lung condition is severe and other treatments are not effective in treating pulmonary fibrosis. This method is done by replacing damaged lung organs with healthy lungs from a donor. However, this procedure carries the risk of causing the body to reject the new organ.

In addition to medical measures, doctors will also recommend patients to change their lifestyle, so that the treatment and recovery process takes place more quickly and there are no complications. The steps that need to be taken are:

• Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke.
• Eat foods high in fiber, such as fruits and vegetables, and avoid foods high in salt and fatty foods.
• Increase rest.
• Do exercise regularly.
• Get vaccinated against pneumonia and flu on a regular basis.

Complications of Pulmonary Fibrosis

If left untreated and not treated immediately, pulmonary fibrosis is at risk of causing complications in the sufferer, namely in the form of:

• Pulmonary hypertension

  Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the blood vessels of the lungs. This condition occurs when blood flow in the lungs is disrupted due to the formation of scar tissue.

• Heart failure

  Disruption of blood flow in the lungs makes the heart have to work harder to pump blood, so that over time, heart failure can occur.

• Lung cancer

  Long-term pulmonary fibrosis can develop into lung cancer.

• Breathing failure

  Respiratory failure occurs when the lungs are no longer able to take in air and meet the needs of oxygen in the body. In this condition, a breathing apparatus is required.

Other disorders that can also occur are the formation of blood clots in the lungs and lung infections (pneumonia).

Prevention of Pulmonary Fibrosis

The best way to prevent pulmonary fibrosis is to avoid the contributing factors, for example by quitting smoking or using personal protective equipment while working in an environment prone to exposure to harmful particles.