Today, people often suffer from some kind of lung disease. This is due to poor environmental conditions, addictions, work in hazardous industries, heredity, stress.
Some of the diseases are easily treatable - it is enough to change your lifestyle and undergo a course of therapy. But there are also those in which full recovery is difficult. The latter include pulmonary fibrosis. We will consider in this article the symptoms of this disease, as well as the main recommendations of doctors.
What is this disease?
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (ICD 10), also called idiopathic fibrosing alveolitis, is a disease most often seen in men over 50 years of age. Smoking is considered the main cause of its occurrence, especially if a person has this bad habit for more than twenty years. But those who have been breathing pesticides for a long time are also susceptible to fibrosis. organic and inorganicdust (flour, fertilizers) can also be the cause of the disease. The factor of hereditary predisposition is not excluded.
Another interesting fact is that pulmonary fibrosis can be triggered by common heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux, that is, reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus. Acid from the throat can enter the trachea, causing the development of pathology.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is as common as tuberculosis. At its core, this is a specific form of pneumonia, and chronic. The lungs are affected mainly in the elderly, while the etiology of the disease is unknown.
Symptoms
As such, there are no symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. It does not provoke subfebrile condition or myalgia. But when listening to the lungs, wheezing is detected on inspiration, similar to the crackling of cellophane. In addition, a person can suffer from shortness of breath for a long time, and it manifests itself during physical exertion and progresses over time. Also, the presence of a dry cough is a common symptom, but the cough may also produce sputum. Changes in the appearance of the nail plates. In the later stages, edema occurs, which are signs of chronic cor pulmonale.
Diagnostic Methods
How to detect idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis? To determine the presence of the disease, you must contact a pulmonologist. He will prescribe the following types of tests:
- Complete blood count. Since there is no specific test for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,the doctor will prescribe a general analysis. This is necessary to exclude other diseases that are accompanied by the same symptoms.
- Performing breathing and functional tests. They are required in order to differentiate pulmonary fibrosis from pulmonary emphysema or other disease.
- Surgical lung biopsy. It is carried out in case of suspicion of oncology.
- Computed tomography. Fibrous changes in the lungs will definitely appear on the pictures.
Forecast
Unfortunately, the prognosis for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is poor. The average life expectancy of patients with this diagnosis is three years. And then, this happens while observing all the recommendations of doctors and carrying out supportive measures. They will be discussed below.
This disease is not completely curable. Gradually, the inevitable deterioration will occur. This, in fact, is dangerous idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Recommendations must be followed without fail. Things to remember:
- In order for symptoms to be less pronounced, it is necessary to quit smoking urgently and without fail.
- Any infection, thromboembolism, heart failure, pneumothorax can lead to an exacerbation of the disease.
- Pulmonary fibrosis quite often turns into oncology. Fatal outcome occurs with respiratory failure, respiratory infection, heart failure, in case of myocardial ischemia and cardiac arrhythmias.
Treatment
HowIt has already been said that there is no cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Only supportive therapy is possible. As therapeutic measures, it is used:
- Oxygen therapy. It effectively reduces the manifestation of shortness of breath. Patients breathe using oxygen concentrators. For this, it is not necessary to visit a medical facility. The necessary devices are available for sale in pharmacies. This method belongs to maintenance therapy.
- Rehabilitation of the lungs. Patients are encouraged to learn and practice special breathing techniques that make breathing easier.
- Corticosteroids and cytostatics. They are prescribed as the main medicines. In addition, antibiotics are used if the patient develops pneumonia.
- If the patient is under the age of 50, they are eligible for a lung transplant.
As you can see, with a diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, treatment should be comprehensive.
It is important to note that some patients do not tolerate corticosteroids and cytostatics very well. This sometimes causes the following side effects:
- peptic stomach ulcer;
- cataract;
- high intraocular pressure;
- arterial hypertension;
- obesity;
- hormonal imbalance;
- adrenal malfunctions.
Each case is individual, so only a doctor should select the most optimal treatment that can stop idiopathic pulmonaryfibrosis.
