Pulmonary Fibrosis (Fibrosis of lungs) is a type of interstitial lung disease that causes scarring of lungs making it difficult to breathe. Latest research establishes that pulmonary rehab is key to the management of pulmonary fibrosis. Medication may slow down the scarring but Pulmonary rehabilitation based treatment of lung fibrosis also helps relieve symptoms and aids patients to breathe better.
The feedback from Dr Abhishek Kshetrapal is a case in point. He remarks, “My mother is 70 years old has reduced lung capacity due to chronic lung fibrosis. I would like to say thank you to Dr. Kavya of RespiRehab for taking wonderful physio care of my mother. I am really grateful to them. Dr. Kavya (PT) has been very patient in understanding my mom’s problems and guiding her with pulmonary rehab. I highly recommended them to one and all.”
In this article our team of respiratory therapists attempt to simplify pulmonary fibrosis for you including details about lung fibrosis treatment.
What Is Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis (lung scarring) describes a group of interstitial lung diseases that occur when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred. The lungs become progressively stiffer and smaller. The thickened, stiff tissue makes it difficult for your lungs to work properly and harder for you to breathe. Pulmonary fibrosis may cause shortness of breath when you do routine tasks that never seemed tiring before.
There are many types of lung disease that can cause pulmonary fibrosis. It is important that your doctor refers you to a specialist or pulmonologist to make the right diagnosis.
Symptoms of Pulmonary Fibrosis
Shortness of breath and dry cough are the primary symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis.
Shortness of breath may mean that your body is not getting enough oxygen. Talk to your doctor right away and insist on an accurate diagnosis.
Signs and Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include:
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea) or difficulty breathing with everyday activities
- Cough (chronic, dry, hacking cough)
- Fast, shallow breathing
- Fatigue/tiredness
- Fatigue and Weakness
- Muscle and joint pain
- Unexplained/unintended weight loss
- Clubbing – Widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers or toes (as disease progresses)
Symptoms vary depending on the cause of pulmonary fibrosis. The severity of symptoms and the progression (worsening) of symptoms over time can vary.
Are Pulmonary fibrosis and COPD the same?
No, pulmonary fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not the same.
In some ways, COPD and Pulmonary Fibrosis are similar. They are both lung diseases that are progressive in nature ie. they will get worse over time. Both these conditions make breathing difficult. You may feel like you can’t catch your breath or breathe deeply, no matter how hard you try.
But these conditions affect the lungs differently:
Pulmonary fibrosis: Providers classify pulmonary fibrosis as an interstitial lung disease. The interstitial tissues are cells that make up the space between blood vessels and other structures inside the lungs. Pulmonary fibrosis damages these cells and makes the absorption of oxygen into the blood stream difficult. It is a rare disease.
COPD: COPD is a more common type of lung disease. Diseases like emphysema and chronic bronchitis are types of COPD. In COPD, lung tissue is damaged, alveoli are destroyed and airways can get irritated and inflamed (swollen).
Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis:
Pulmonary fibrosis scars and thickens the tissue around and between the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs making it difficult for oxygen to pass into your bloodstream. The damage can be caused by many different factors — including long-term exposure to certain toxins, certain medical conditions, radiation therapy and some medications.
Click to learn about the Lung fibrosis causes in detail here
What is Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis?
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and the most common subtype of interstitial lung disease (ILD) characterized by dyspnea and progressive deterioration of lung function [1][2]
Although many substances and conditions can lead to pulmonary fibrosis. Even so, in most cases, the cause is never found. Pulmonary fibrosis with no known cause is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). It is the most common type of interstitial lung disease.
Researchers have several theories about what might trigger idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, including viruses and exposure to tobacco smoke. Also, some forms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis run in families, and heredity may play a role in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Pulmonary Fibrosis Treatment
Most pulmonary fibrosis treatments focus on easing symptoms and improving your quality of life.
The treatment will include one or more of the following:
- Medication: The treatment options for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are very limited. Since scarring is permanent once it has developed, your doctor will prescribe you medications to manage your symptoms.
- Oxygen therapy: Giving your body extra oxygen helps you breathe more easily. It may also increase your energy and strength.
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Pulmonary rehab is key to the management of pulmonary fibrosis. Staying active in this special program may improve how much (or how easily) you can do everyday tasks or activities.
- Lung transplant: A lung transplant replaces one or both diseased lungs with a healthy lung (or lungs) from a donor. It offers the potential to improve your health and quality of life. A lung transplant is major surgery, and not everyone is a candidate.
Pulmonary Rehab for Lung Fibrosis:
Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) is a supervised program that includes exercise training, health education, and breathing techniques for people who have certain respiratory conditions or lung problems due to other conditions.
Research studies [3] suggest that PR can enhance exercise capacity and improve quality of life in IPF patients. Besides, PR may also delay the decline of lung function of patients with IPF.
RespiRehab with a Multidisciplinary team for Pulmonary Fibrosis Management
RespiRehab offers tailormade pulmonary rehabilitation programme for patients of lung disease using a team of multi-disciplinary experts. In line with the latest innovations and research for management of lung diseases, you can take a completely personalised pulmonary rehabilitation programme with RespiRehab. The rehab team often includes physiotherapists, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists and dietitians. Together, these health professionals create a personal program to meet your specific needs.
Where Is Pulmonary Rehabilitation Administered?
Pulmonary rehabilitation can be taken as an outpatient program based in a clinic. If you would like to limit your movement (travel), you may continue pulmonary rehabilitation in your own home. RespiRehab team has helped numerous lung patients online and takes immense pride in their online treatment expertise.
If you have pulmonary fibrosis, you will likely see a pulmonologist (lung specialist) long-term for regular follow-up visits. Your healthcare provider will work with you to preserve your lung function and maintain the highest possible quality of life. They will help find the right combination of medication to treat the ways pulmonary fibrosis affects you. If they haven’t already advised, ask your pulmonologist how RespiRehab can help you live better.
You can contact us directly by asking for call back by clicking here or call us right away at +91 9920991647 and we will put you in touch with our Lung fibrosis expert and get you started with pulmonary rehabilitation programme custom-made for you.
Scientific References:
[1] Raghu G., Rochwerg B., Zhang Y. An official ATS/ERS/JRS/ALAT clinical practice guideline: treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. an update of the 2011 clinical practice guideline. American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine. 2015;192(5):e3–e19. doi: 10.1164/rccm.201506-1063ST. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
[2] Richeldi L., Collard H. R., Jones M. G. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. The Lancet. 2017;389(10082):1941–1952. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)30866-8. [PubMed] [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
[3] Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Exercise Tolerance and Quality of Life in IPF Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Xueqing Yu, Xuanlin Li, Liaoyao Wang, Ran Liu, Yang Xie, Suyun Li, and Jiansheng Li. Published online 2019 Mar 21. doi: 10.1155/2019/8498603
