5. Rheumatoid arthritis
Studies show that around 40% of all rheumatoid arthritis patients also have pulmonary fibrosis. As a matter of fact, the leading cause of death for patients with rheumatoid arthritis is breathing problems brought on by pulmonary fibrosis. Scientists are yet to discover the exact link between the two diseases but the correlation is very clear. While rheumatoid arthritis primarily affects the joints, it can also inflame the lung of some patients.
Doctors suspect that this pulmonary inflammation brought on by arthritis may be the reason why pulmonary fibrosis is so prominent in RA patients. After all, chronic inflammation does have a tendency to lead to the formation of scar tissue. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should get their lungs checked on a regular basis to ensure that pulmonary fibrosis will be diagnosed early if and when it develops. Catching the problem early and nipping it at the bud will increase the odds of survival.