It came as a shock to the Norwegian royal family when Crown Princess Mette-Marit was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018. Because the serious illness cannot be cured. How can you recognize it, what triggers it – and what can help those affected? An overview.
What is pulmonary fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis is a collective term for more than 200 different, rather rare lung diseases. These can have completely different causes. What they have in common is that they lead to chronic inflammation of the connective tissue in the lungs. As a result, the lung connective tissue increases significantly, hardens and scars.
The blood of those affected by pulmonary fibrosis is less well supplied with oxygen. The progressive stiffening of the lungs requires more and more strength to breathe in.
It is estimated that around 750,000 people in Europe are affected by pulmonary fibrosis, men more often than women. In just over half of all cases, the exact reason for the illness is not known.
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Diagnosis: pulmonary fibrosis – what are the symptoms?
The complaints are in Initial stage pulmonary fibrosis is often not very specific. Those affected often notice that something is wrong with their health when their physical resilience decreases. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as shortness of breath and a dry, irritating cough become more severe.
In the advanced stage of the disease The skin of some affected people turns bluish due to the lack of oxygen. In addition, the lack of oxygen can lead to changes in the fingers: the bone thickness at the ends of the fingers increases. Doctors speak of drumstick fingers. In some patients, the fingernails also bulge forward.
People with pulmonary fibrosis are prone to frequent respiratory infections. Symptoms of illness such as fatigue, mild fever, muscle and joint pain or lack of appetite and weight loss are also possible.
When the disease is advanced, many patients suffer from increased blood pressure in the lungs. This can have a negative effect on the heart and lead to fluid retention in the limbs or stomach.
Cause: What causes pulmonary fibrosis?
Exactly why pulmonary fibrosis can develop has not yet been fully clarified. There are even more known triggers that can promote pulmonary fibrosis. These include infections caused by viruses and parasites – including the coronavirus, inhalation of harmful substances such as asbestos or quartz dust, chronic kidney failure, side effects of medication or other illnesses.
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Healing: Can you stop pulmonary fibrosis?
Pulmonary fibrosis cannot be cured; at best, the progression of the disease can be stopped, but in many cases it can only be slowed down. If the cause of pulmonary fibrosis is known, it must be treated first. In addition, those affected are treated with anti-inflammatory agents or so-called antifibrotic drugs, which inhibit the further formation of additional connective tissue in the lungs.
If the oxygen level in the blood drops too much, additional oxygen doses may be necessary. If the disease is very advanced, the only thing that can help in the worst case scenario is a lung transplant.
(This article was first published on September 29, 2022.)
BRISANT/netdoktor.de/lungenaerzte-im-netz.de
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This topic in the program:The first | BRISANT | September 29, 2022 | 5:15 p.m