Interstitial fibrosis is a scarring of the lung tissue. This scarring will eventually affect your ability to breath and your ability to get adequate oxygen to the major organs of your body. Once the lungs become scarred it is usually irreversible resulting in death.
There is a wide variety of disorders that can cause interstitial fibrosis but the symptoms are all very similar. In the beginning stages of this disease, you will often feel short of breath especially during and after physical activities. You may also develop a dry cough that is not accompanied by any other cold or allergy symptoms.
These symptoms will become progressively worse, and you will notice yourself becoming short of breath while doing routine activities such as talking on the phone or getting dressed.
Interstitial fibrosis has many causes, and it is hard for doctors to pinpoint which one may have caused the injury to the lung tissue. Occupation and environmental hazards can play a big part in damaging the lungs.
You can develop interstitial fibrosis from certain infections and from taking certain types of drugs. Radiation exposure can cause scarring of the lung tissue. Sometimes there is no way to know what caused the interstitial fibrosis in some patients.
Your age can put you at a greater risk for interstitial fibrosis. This type of lung disease rarely shows up in people under fifty.
If you work in the mining, farming or construction industry the pollutants that you are exposed to can put you at a higher risk for interstitial fibrosis. Inhaling high levels of oxygen for long periods of time can damage the lung tissues and cause scarring.
There is a type of interstitial fibrosis that is hereditary. Therefore, if anyone in your family suffers from this disease your risk factors are much higher. Smoking will also increase your risk factor for developing irreversible scarring of the lung tissue.
Treatment for interstitial lung disease will depend on the cause of the disease and is not always successful. Your doctor may prescribe long term steroids to reduce the inflammation in the lungs.
You may be given cytotoxic drugs or anti-fibrotic drugs to try to reverse some of the scarring or slow the progression in the lungs. Oxygen may be prescribed for you to use while sleeping or, depending on the severity of the disease, you may be required to use it all of the time.
If you have been diagnosed with interstitial fibrosis, there are some lifestyle changes that you can make to reduce the affects of the disease. If you smoke it is critical that you quit right away. It is important that you start to exercise regularly. This can be difficult when you have difficulty breathing but a mild to moderate exercise routine will help you to maintain lung function.
It is important that you eat a healthy diet. Those that have interstitial fibrosis may not eat enough because a full stomach makes it even more difficult to breathe. You should eat several small meals throughout the day to get your required daily caloric intake.
RESOURCES
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center: What are interstitial Lung Diseases?
MayoClinic: Interstitial Lung Disease
Loyola University medical Education Network: Idiopathic Interstitial Fibrosis
MedlinePlus: Diffuse Interstitial Lung Disease