Pulmonary fibrosis - Five risk factors
Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that occurs when the tissue deep in your lungs become thick and stiff. Over time, the damaged tissue forms scar tissue. When the scarred tissue becomes too thick, breathing becomes difficult and symptoms arise. It is most likely to affect people of age 50-75, it is a progressive disease, and determining the cause can be challenging.
There are several risk factors associated with pulmonary fibrosis.
Autoimmune diseases
Environmental/occupational exposure & smoking
GERD
Genetics
Medications
Autoimmune disease
1. Autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma as well as specific muscle diseases such as polymyositis, are diseases where our body attacks the body 's own
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Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been found to be a contributing factor associated with pulmonary fibrosis. GERD is a digestive disorder where the stomach 's acid backs up into the esophagus. Prolonged or left untreated, the introduction of the stomach acid into the respiratory system can produce eventual scarring that may lead to pulmonary fibrosis.
Genetics
4. Research evidence indicates that development of pulmonary fibrosis can be linked to genetics. There appears to be a gene that is predisposed to lung disease, and pulmonary fibrosis in particular. For those with a family history of this predisposition, environmental and other risk factors such as smoking are more likely to result in the disease.
Medications
5. Drug induced pulmonary fibrosis is a problem in which an individual with no previous lung problems develops respiratory symptoms that lead to pulmonary fibrosis. For example, chemotherapy drugs are designed specifically for killing cancer cells, but may also damage lung tissue. Some antibiotics, such as nitrofurantoin, and heart medications, such as amiodarone, have also been found to harm lung tissue, especially when used on a long-term