Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: An Overview

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is a chronic lung disease which causes an irreversible decline in the functioning of the lungs. Common the condition are cigarette smoking, metal dust, wood dust and working in environments characterised by livestock. As an individual inhales excessive dust during respiration, the lungs struggle to separate useful air from the polluted one. Continued exposure to the surrounding continuously weakens the lungs and reaches a point of failure if the surroundings are not changed. Therefore the primary measure for the prevention of the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis condition is to stay and work in accommodating environments without air pollution. Public health providers and the government have therefore joined efforts to create policies and improve working and living conditions of individuals to limit the chances of contracting the disorder.

Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis are always displayed clearly for adequate diagnosis and treatment. Most common characteristics of this illness are dry coughs, shortness of breath especially during exercises, crackling sounds in the lung during inhalation and disfigurement of the fingertips. The condition has signed similar to chronic hypoxemia with just a small difference which can lead to the wrong diagnosis. It is essential to run tests for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in any patient who has chronic exertional dyspnea to ensure the individual is not infected with the condition. It is an irreversible condition which must be timely stopped before causing severe harm to the patient.

Diagnosis and treatment

Early diagnosis for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis disorder is essential for appropriate therapy with hopes of improvement. Individuals are therefore advised to seek medical attention if they sense any of the named signs and symptoms. Community awareness programs are run by public nurses to educate individuals about the relevant channels to use to receive adequate diagnosis and treatment. Determination of the condition is carried out by use of surgical lung biopsy to determine the state of the lungs.

Treatment goals of the condition target to reduce the displayed signs and symptoms and prolong the life of the patient. Treatment methods applied to cure Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis include oxygen therapy, pharmacology treatment and pulmonary rehabilitation. Oxygen therapy is the use of supplementary oxygen to the patients whose lungs cannot play perfectly well the role of respiration. It helps in keeping the other systems of the body to function at a normal since oxygen supply is made efficient. Some pharmacology medications have been invented from scientific research which also helps reduce the rate of continued failure of the lungs. They help keep the patient alive. Lastly, pulmonary rehabilitation can help improve the functional status by stabilising and reversing extrapulmonary characteristics of the condition. Some of the programs to enhance improvement include proper nutrition, exercises and psychological counselling.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: An Overview