{"id":9510,"date":"2019-08-18T15:23:50","date_gmt":"2019-08-18T15:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=9510"},"modified":"2021-06-22T16:29:45","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T16:29:45","slug":"14-common-causes-of-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/14-common-causes-of-idiopathic-pulmonary-fibrosis\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pulmonary fibrosis is the de facto medical term used to describe a lung disease that manifests whenever lung tissue becomes scarred and damaged. The tissue will stiffen and thicken which makes it far harder for your lungs to function at an efficient level. As the condition progresses, it will become harder and harder to breathe \u2014 with late-stage patients saying that they feel short of breath the whole day through even when not attempting any strenuous activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the damage to the lungs isn\u2019t repairable, regular treatment \u2014 through the form of therapies and medications \u2014 could alleviate some of the symptoms and make the life of the patient far more bearable. Some cases \u2014 referred to as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis \u2014 are of unknown origin. That being said, there are quite a few things that could cause pulmonary fibrosis. Let\u2019s take a look at eight of the most common ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Silica dust<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The longest word of most English dictionaries is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. It refers to lung diseases caused by the inhalation of silica dust<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It just so happens that a shorter-term, silicosis, is more frequently used by medical professionals. Silica is a mineral. It is a component of quartz, rock, and sand. Workers that face constant exposure to silica dust are at higher risk of silicosis. Jobs like foundry work, glass manufacturing, and mining could all lead to silicosis after spending years in the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breathing in these fine particles of the silica could scar your lungs and thus cause pulmonary fibrosis. Following the discovery of the link between silica dust and pulmonary fibrosis, many regulatory boards added rules stating that companies in high-risk industries must supply masks to their workers or be faced with hefty fines. This reduced the number of cases caused by silica dust but didn\u2019t eradicate them entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Asbestos fibers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Asbestos <\/a>has long been labeled a health risk due to the fact that it can cause lung cancer, but did you know that it can also be one of the causes of pulmonary fibrosis? The term asbestos actually refers to a group of fibers rather than a single fiber. There are six in total, all naturally occurring, and needle-like in shape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While it does have the application of adding strength to various materials and fireproofing them, it is banned in many countries due to the health risks it presents. It\u2019s not banned in the US, however.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyone with prolonged exposure to these asbestos fibers could suffer from lung damage. The damage to their lung tissue will develop scars that could cause pulmonary fibrosis. The resilience of asbestos fibers is the very reason that they\u2019re so dangerous. Once asbestos dust is inhaled, it can remain in the lungs forever, causing damage with every passing day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Sarcoidosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sarcoidosis <\/a>is an inflammatory disease that occurs when granulomas \u2014 masses of inflammatory tissue \u2014 develop in the lungs, brain, and other organs. There are various types of sarcoidosis that can affect various areas in the body, but pulmonary sarcoidosis is the type that can cause pulmonary fibrosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The inflammation that pulmonary sarcoidosis causes to the lungs can lead to the formation of scar tissue \u2014 thus reducing the efficiency of the lungs and causing pulmonary fibrosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The exact cause of sarcoidosis is unknown but many doctors believe that it is due to a genetic predisposition that is triggered upon coming into contact with an unknown substance such as a chemical or toxin. If you are confirmed to have sarcoidosis then start to notice the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis then there\u2019s a high likelihood that the former caused the latter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Scleroderma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Scleroderma <\/a>is the term used to describe a group of skin diseases \u2014 all of which involve the tightening and hardening of the tissue. The disease is more prominent in females as opposed to males and typically develops between the ages of 30-50 years old. Seeing as scleroderma is an autoimmune disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that someone with another autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis or type 2 diabetes could have a higher risk of developing scleroderma. A variant known as scleroderma lung disease could scar the lung and thus lead to pulmonary fibrosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scleroderma patients should be especially cautious if they start to notice symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis as their existing condition puts them at a higher likelihood of developing it. When a patient has both conditions, they will accelerate each other\u2019s progression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Rheumatoid arthritis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Smoking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another risk factor that could lead to the development of pulmonary fibrosis is smoking<\/a>. As we all know, smoking is devastating to the lungs. That being the case, smokers are at a far higher risk for developing pulmonary fibrosis in comparison to non-smokers. Even former smokers who have since quit are still at high risk for developing pulmonary fibrosis due to the damage that they did to their lungs in their years of smoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Obviously, the length of time that they spent smoking as well as the severity of their addiction will impact the exact odds that they have of developing the disease. Smokers and former smokers alike should get regular lung checks to ensure that no lung diseases have developed. Smokers are also encouraged to quit immediately, and those who don\u2019t smoke yet should avoid tobacco like the plague \u2014 as it is far more deadly than Yersinia pestis in our modern age of medicine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Radiation treatment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Studies have shown that radiation therapy could also lead to the development of pulmonary fibrosis. Those who have received radiation therapy in an attempt to treat breast or lung cancer<\/a> displayed distinct signs of damage to their lungs even months \u2014 and in some cases years \u2014 following the initial treatment. This damage could lead to the development of scar tissue in the lungs, causing pulmonary fibrosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s worth noting that the severity of the damage to their lungs can vary depending on how much radiation they received, whether or not it was used in conjunction with chemotherapy, and how much of their lung was actually exposed. If they have an existing lung disease then they could also be more susceptible to lung damage during their radiotherapy. This is a prime example of how some treatments can solve one problem yet cause another and a good reminder of why we need more viable cancer treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Medications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are many drugs that could cause damage to your lungs, and we\u2019re not even talking about illegal narcotics. For instance, chemotherapy drugs that are designed to kill off cancer cells in the body could also pose a risk to the health of your lungs. Other medications that could damage your lung tissue include pharmaceuticals like amiodarone that are designed to treat heart arrhythmias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Certain antibiotics <\/a>may also lead to scarring in your lungs. Ethambutol is a commonly used antibiotic, and studies have shown that excessive, unnecessary, and\/or long-term usage of the drug can lead to lung damage. If you don\u2019t want pulmonary fibrosis then you should stop taking antibiotics if you don\u2019t need to. Pressuring your doctor into giving your antibiotics you don\u2019t need won\u2019t do you any good \u2014 and could do a lot of harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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