{"id":9643,"date":"2019-08-10T23:32:09","date_gmt":"2019-08-10T23:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9643"},"modified":"2021-04-25T15:25:15","modified_gmt":"2021-04-25T15:25:15","slug":"15-frequent-causes-of-pulmonary-fibrosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-frequent-causes-of-pulmonary-fibrosis\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Frequent Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease in the lungs that occurs when the tissue in the lungs become scarred and damaged. The tissue in the lungs will become stiff and thick. In turn, it will make the person have a difficult time breathing. The reason it becomes difficult to breathe is that pulmonary fibrosis has gotten worse. When it comes to pulmonary fibrosis there are a number of causes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors really can\u2019t say where the disease comes from. When there is no cause for the disease found it is called idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. There is no cure for pulmonary fibrosis, but there are medications and therapies that can help ease the symptoms. A person can still live a normal life. In some cases, a person can have a lung transplant. Here are eight frequent causes of pulmonary fibrosis that you need to be aware of just in case you happen to get the disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Asbestos is a frequent cause of pulmonary fibrosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Asbestos <\/a>is used in the workplace. People who are exposed to asbestos for a long period of time can develop a number of health problems, including pulmonary fibrosis. Asbestos gets into the lungs and causes damage to the tissue in the lungs. It is a good idea for people who work in the workplace with asbestos to wear a mask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will avoid the person from getting pulmonary fibrosis. Asbestos stays in the air for a long time, so if workers decide to eat lunch around the asbestos, they will still be exposed to it. It is best to go somewhere else to eat lunch where asbestos is nowhere around. It is also helpful to change clothing since the scent will be on your work clothes. Place the work clothes in your locker or in the trunk of your car, so that you can\u2019t inhale the asbestos while driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Bird and animal droppings can cause pulmonary fibrosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Bird and animal droppings have a foul smell to them and if they are inhaled for a long time it can affect the lungs<\/a>. For instance, dogs are unable to cover their bowel movement, so if it\u2019s not cleaned up by their owner, it will smell. If a person has to be outside for a while, it is best to wear a mask. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people don\u2019t wear a mask if they\u2019re just outside gardening or mowing the lawn. Bird droppings can have a foul smell, especially if their droppings are huge. It is even worse if a bird decides to have their droppings fall on you. Take the piece of clothing off, if you\u2019re at home and wash it in hot water. If you are unable to wear a mask, cover your mouth and nose until you\u2019re away from the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Radiation is a frequent cause of pulmonary fibrosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who have breast or lung cancer show signs of pulmonary fibrosis<\/a> several months or years after the initial treatment. The patient\u2019s doctor needs to find out how long the person was exposed to radiation. When a person has cancer, he or she has to take radiation for a while to try to get rid of the mass in their body. The amount of radiation given to the person depends on how much their lungs were damaged. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some cancer patients need a lot of radiation to help their cancer. Sometimes with radiation, chemotherapy is used. Chemotherapy sometimes doesn\u2019t do too much good and can make other organs become damaged, such as the lungs. A person who is taking radiation may already have a lung disease and not be aware of it. A good cancer doctor will look at a person\u2019s entire body to see what disease he or she may have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Chemotherapy drugs can damage the lungs and cause pulmonary fibrosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Chemotherapy <\/a>drugs are made to kill cancer cells, but a lot of the time it makes the person feel worse than better. While a person is taking the chemotherapy drug, the lungs may become damaged. It can happen quickly. Since the body is already affected by cancer, it is easy for the lungs to become damaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to ask your doctor about the side effects of the medicine. Sometimes it\u2019s best to not take a chemotherapy drug because it can make the cancer progress to your lungs. Even though you want to get better, sometimes it doesn\u2019t pay to take chemotherapy drugs. Cancer patients need to educate themselves on different chemotherapy drugs on the market. Methotrexate and Cyclophosphamide are two of the class of chemotherapy drugs that can cause damage to the lungs, so steer clear of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Heart medications is a frequent cause of pulmonary fibrosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Heart medicines in the class of amiodarone <\/a>can cause an irregular heartbeat and damage the lungs. Heart medications can have side effects that can affect certain people. It is a good idea that doctors take blood tests and examine the person on a regular basis to make sure the organs are working properly. Patients need to tell his or her doctor when a medication is not working for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another heart medication can be tried so that the lungs don\u2019t become damaged. If a person waits too long to tell his or her doctor that the medicine is bothering them, it can cause damage. Sometimes damage to the lungs can happen quickly or slowly. Sometimes it\u2019s best to go to more than one doctor to get a second opinion, especially if your regular doctor doesn\u2019t seem interested in your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Dust from coal is another cause of pulmonary fibrosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some occupational jobs that use coal are miners and railroad workers. Workers enjoy the smell of the coal<\/a>, but it is causing harm to their health. Every day they are exposed to the smell of the coal. As they get older, their lungs become damaged and pulmonary fibrosis sets in. On the other hand, people who live near railroads, they can become exposed to the smell of coal. Workers who work around coal need to wear a mask at all times. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Railroad and miners are deep in the smell of coal. It is a good idea that people who work around coal get regular check-ups and have their lungs examined. If there has been damage done, it may be a good idea to change careers or consider wearing protection over their nose and mouth. The damage has been done and there is no way to reverse it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Pneumonia is a frequent cause of pulmonary fibrosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The lungs can become scarred and damaged by this medical condition. A lot of the time a person decides to go to the hospital to seek treatment for pneumonia<\/a>. If you decide to treat it at home, it may cause you to stop breathing because your lungs aren\u2019t working properly. This can cause death. At the hospital, you can get the right treatment to avoid getting pulmonary fibrosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pneumonia can be treated. As soon as you get pneumonia to go to the hospital. Your primary care doctor may give you some medicine to help pneumonia go away. Some people with pneumonia don\u2019t need to go to the hospital, but with others, it can cause death, if they don\u2019t get treatment as soon as possible. They have medications to help with pulmonary heart disease, but the medications may not work if you\u2019ve waited too long to receive treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Tobacco smoke is another cause of pulmonary fibrosis. <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People who smoke or inhale tobacco <\/a>smoke from second-hand smoking can get pulmonary fibrosis. Their lungs are exposed to nicotine, which is hazardous. By being around tobacco smoke for long periods of time, the lungs will continue to become weaker. When around someone who is smoking, cover your mouth and nose, so you don\u2019t have to inhale it. Once you get home, take your clothes off and take a shower and change your clothing. Tobacco smoke will get in your hair, skin, and clothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may want to wash your clothes if the smell is strong. In some cases, if you\u2019re not around someone who is blowing tobacco smoke, people who stand around you, such as in line at the grocery store have a strong smell of nicotine on them. The smell is still getting into your lungs. Once you start coughing, that is a sign you may have pulmonary fibrosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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