What is pulmonary fibrosis?

Pulmonary fibrosis often develops later on in life, usually in people over sixty years. It is a rare chronic pulmonary disease. The lungs can no longer absorbe sufficient oxygen and secrete carbon dioxide. In case of pulmonary fibrosis the membranes of the alveoli get thicker and less flexible. Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe disease that is incurable, but treatable with medication.

Symptoms in relation to pulmonary fibrosis
The lung capacity is reduced in people with pulmonary fibrosis, this leads to shortness of breathe. Shortness of energy is also something that is common in people who have pulmonary fibrosis. If the disease is at an advanced stage, it can even lead to weight loss or deformities to nails and/or finger tops. This can give pain to the joints. The more progression in this disease, the worse the symptoms often get.

Heredity and causes

In 5 to 10% of the people suffering this disease, pulmonary fibrosis is hereditary. If someone is currently carrying this hereditary disease one can not say yet. Scientists are busy trying to prove this. The most well-known causes of pulmonary fibrosis are:

• prolonged exposure to a chemical
• medication; for example cancer chemotherapy
• diseases to the immune system
• prolonged exposure to organic materials
• sarcoidosis
• tuberculosis or legionella; only in exceptional cases