Lung fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is a respiratory disorder caused by the formation of scar tissue in the lung organs. This condition will prevent the lungs from functioning normally.
This abnormal lung function will cause shortness of breath even during the least amount of activity, such as walking or wearing clothes.

Lung fibrosis is a lung disease that worsens slowly and is not contagious. This disease can be caused by various factors and can be felt by anyone, but it is more common in adults and older people.
Causes of pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis is caused by scar tissue that forms in the lungs. Several factors can trigger the formation of scar tissue, including:
Work environment

Hazardous chemical particles, such as asbestos fibers, coal dust and metal dust, can damage the lung organs if prolonged exposure. Chemical particles can be found in mining, agriculture and construction areas.
Some diseases

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

Several types of drugs can damage lung tissue, such as chemotherapy drugs (methotrexate and cyclophosphamide), drugs for heart disease (amiodarone), antibiotics (nitrofurantoin and ethambutol) and anti-inflammatory (rituximab and sulfasalazine).
radiotherapy
Radiation therapy or radiotherapy that is usually used to treat cancer can damage the lungs, especially if done for a long time. Symptoms of lung injury can be seen several months to years after the patient is exposed to radiation.

In addition to some of the causes mentioned above, several factors can increase the risk of pulmonary fibrosis, namely:

• Age and gender

Most sufferers of pulmonary fibrosis are people aged 40 to 70 years. However, this condition can also be experienced by infants and children. Pulmonary fibrosis is also more common in men than in women.

• Smoking habit

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

• offspring

Pulmonary fibrosis can be inherited in the family. In some cases, it is known that people with pulmonary fibrosis 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:

• Get tired quickly
• Muscle and joint pain
• Weight loss
• Blue fingers and toes

The symptoms experienced will develop slowly until more than 6 months.
When to see a doctor

All workers exposed to hazardous particles, such as silica dust or asbestos fibers, must visit a doctor regularly, usually once a year, according to company policy. In addition, these workers must also wear personal protective equipment to avoid lung damage.

Seek medical attention immediately if you cough for more than 3 weeks, especially until shortness of breath. This condition requires special treatment by a doctor.

Diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis

After asking the patient's symptoms and history, the doctor will use a stethoscope to check the sounds in the lungs. The doctor can also do additional tests to confirm the presence of pulmonary fibrosis, including:

• Imaging test

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

• Lung function test

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

• biopsy

This procedure is done to confirm the diagnosis and to detect the severity of pulmonary fibrosis by examining a sample of lung tissue.

In addition to analyzing blood gases, blood tests are also done 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 heart disease, your doctor may ask you to do a cardiac echo test and a treadmill ECG to check for heart function.
Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis

The doctor will determine the type of treatment for pulmonary fibrosis depending on the severity. Treatment can be done for pulmonary fibrosis, namely:

• Give medicine

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

• Additional oxygen

Oxygen is given to prevent the body from running out of oxygen and improving sleep quality.

• Lung rehabilitation

Pulmonary rehabilitation is done through physical endurance practices and breathing techniques to improve lung organ function to relieve symptoms.

• Lung transplantation

Lung transplantation is done if the lungs are severe and other treatments are not effective in treating pulmonary fibrosis. This method involves replacing damaged lung organs with healthy lungs from a donor. However, this procedure can cause rejection of new organs by the body.

In addition to medical care, doctors will also encourage patients to change their lifestyle, so that the treatment and recovery process takes place faster and there are no complications. The steps that must be followed are as follows:

• Stop smoking and avoid cigarette smoke.
• Eat high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, and avoid foods that are high in salt and fat.
• More rest.
• Exercise regularly.
• Vaccinate against pneumonia and influenza regularly.

Complications of pulmonary fibrosis

If left untreated and not treated immediately, pulmonary fibrosis can cause complications in patients, which include:

• Pulmonary hypertension

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

• Heart failure

Impaired blood flow to the lungs forces the heart to work harder to pump blood, so heart failure can occur over time.

• Lung cancer

Long-standing lung fibrosis can develop into lung cancer.

• Breathing less

Respiratory failure occurs when the lungs can no longer take up air and meet the body's oxygen needs. In this condition, breathing apparatus is needed.

Blood clots in the lungs and lung infections (pneumonia) can also occur.
Prevention of pulmonary fibrosis

The best way to prevent pulmonary fibrosis is by avoiding causative factors, such as stopping smoking or using personal protective equipment when working in an environment exposed to harmful particles.

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