Many are interested in pulmonary fibrosis - what is it? If the skin is damaged, scar tissue forms. It can be a scar, cut, burn or mild dermatological disease. If you damage the middle layer of the skin, blood clots begin to form on it, which protect exposed tissue from harmful microorganisms or infections. After this, the cells begin to recover.
Features of the disease
Fibrous change is a replacement of the connective lung tissue. When fibrous tissue forms in the lungs, serious malfunctioning of the respiratory system begins to occur. After some time, the entire respiratory system ceases to function fully. Thanks to modern treatment methods, many complications can be avoided. You should know that the scars on the lungs after pneumonia remain in everyone. But it is better to visit a doctor in order to find out the exact cause of the scar.
How dangerous is scarring?
Fibrosis is a very dangerous disease that progresses rapidly and goes into complex forms of development. When the first symptoms of the disease appear, it is important to consult a doctor in a timely manner, otherwise serious complications may arise that will quickly lead to the death of the patient. Pulmonary fibrosis is not a cancer, but it is very harmful to the general state of health and affects life expectancy. The scar on the lung has the property of expanding, so over time it becomes more difficult for a person to breathe. With the help of a medical or surgical method of treatment, it is impossible to permanently eliminate scars. There is only one way out: improving the patient's quality of life at the expense of drugs.
Doctor's opinion
Fibrosis is the formation of scars on the lungs. Experts argue that if you strictly follow all the recommendations of a doctor, then fibrosis does not significantly affect the life expectancy. Much depends on the stage and form of the disease. At the initial stages of the development of pathology, treatment of scar on the lung is much easier and more effective. In the subsequent stages of the disease, treatment is carried out in a hospital setting.
Varieties of Scars
There are several types of fibrotic disease. Namely:
- Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This is the most dangerous kind of disease, because when this pathology occurs, it is impossible to determine the factor that provoked the appearance of the disease.
- With an interstitial scar on the lung, you can easily diagnose the cause of the disease.
Thanks to the timely study of pathology, recovery comes much faster. Therefore, it is important to regularly visit a doctor and undergo a medical examination.
Signs of Fibrosis
There are a number of signs that occur at an early stage of the development of the disease. Among the main distinguish:
- shortness of breath
- chest pain;
- coughing;
- wheezing in the chest;
- nausea
- weakness;
- fatigue;
- weight loss;
- poor appetite;
- heat;
- the occurrence of edema;
- hypertension
Life expectancy for pulmonary fibrosis is approximately 3-5 years. It all depends on how the disease is started.
Causes of the disease
After studying the etiology of pulmonary fibrosis, it can be concluded that absolutely every person can have a scar on the lung. But there are factors that significantly increase the risk of this pathology. These include:
- Constant contact with dust. Inorganic and organic dust can provoke a strong allergic reaction, which often leads to pulmonary fibrosis.
- With improperly selected treatment, various drugs can provoke the appearance of a strong allergic reaction. For this reason, drug fibrosis appears.
- As medical practice shows, fibrosis is most often diagnosed in smokers. Smoking harms the general state of health and disrupts the full functioning of important systems of the human body. During smoking, lung tissue is destroyed.
Experts concluded that this disease is not fully understood. In addition to external factors, there are also internal ones that most often provoke the appearance of scars in the respiratory organs, namely:
- the development of rheumatism;
- arthritis;
- scleroderma.
These diseases destroy tissues, including the lungs. For this reason, fibrosis develops. An infectious or inflammatory process in the body, advanced pneumonia or tuberculosis, often cause pulmonary fibrosis. You should be aware that the disease can occur in both adults and children. Given that the children's body is much more vulnerable to various diseases, it is especially important to carefully monitor the health of babies.
Main types
Many are interested in pulmonary fibrosis - what is it? But not everyone knows that this is a lung disease. Among the most common types of fibrosis there are: focal and diffuse type. When focal fibrosis occurs, only part of the organ is affected. At the initial stage of the development of the disease, symptoms may be absent. Most often, signs of pathology appear after a few months. For this reason, doctors recommend regularly undergoing a medical examination and taking the necessary tests - this is the best prevention for any disease. This is especially true for those people in the family who had similar diseases. In the process of diffuse lung damage, the disease develops rapidly and affects all the functions of the respiratory organs.
Pathology treatment
How to treat lung scars? Unfortunately, fibrotic deformity cannot be completely cured. First of all, it is important to slow down the development of the disease. In frequent cases, the doctor prescribes a cytostatic. This will help slow down the process of destruction of connective tissue and cell division. Antibiotics perfectly remove the inflammatory process, and vitamins help strengthen the immune system and improve overall health. In addition, drugs are prescribed whose action is aimed at improving metabolism. In the process of complex treatment of scar on the lung after tuberculosis, it is important to carry out breathing exercises. The duration of the course of treatment and the dosage of drugs are determined strictly by the attending physician. It is forbidden to self-medicate, as this will lead to death of the patient. Doctors do not recommend the use of alternative methods of treatment, as this will only worsen the general state of health. Only after passing a complete medical study does a specialist prescribe drugs that are suitable for the patient.
Preventative measures
To reduce the risk of pulmonary fibrosis, doctors recommend:
- avoid nervous strain;
- eat properly;
- perform breathing exercises;
- to refuse from bad habits;
- apply personal protective equipment when working in hazardous conditions;
- periodically monitor the state of the respiratory system.
You should eat more vegetables and fruits. This will positively affect the protective function of the body. Drugs that contain calcium are prescribed by doctors to prevent osteoporosis.
Experts concluded that smoking hookah negatively affects the functioning of the human respiratory system. For this reason, it is necessary to exclude smoking not only tobacco, but also hookah products. Substances that are contained in tobacco often provoke the development of cancer and tumor diseases, which causes pulmonary fibrosis. You should walk more in the fresh air, play sports, eat right and visit a doctor regularly - this is the best prevention of pulmonary fibrosis.
Therapist's conclusion
A scar on the lung after surgery is diagnosed by a doctor using radiography. In frequent cases, treatment is carried out medically. But first you need to find out the true cause of the scar. Since some types of fibrosis disease can develop in a latent form, doctors recommend that you visit your doctor at least 2 times a year. If you have any health problems, it is important to immediately contact a therapist. It is forbidden to engage in self-medication, as this is more harmful to health.