Causes of pulmonary fibrosis

Lungs are important organs for all of us mammals to survive. If the lungs are damaged, we will not be able to breathe, the body will stop functioning, and our lives will be in jeopardy. Although the lungs are very important, they are also quite fragile. Too much external pollutants or dust can cause lung diseases. For example, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis is a common lung disease caused by external damage.

Diffuse pulmonary fibrosis is an inflammatory disease of the pulmonary interstitium caused by various reasons. The lesions mainly involve the pulmonary interstitium, and may also involve alveolar epithelial cells and pulmonary blood vessels. Some causes are clear, while others are unclear. Clear causes include inhalation of inorganic dust such as asbestos and coal; organic dust such as mold dust and cotton dust; gases such as smoke and sulfur dioxide; viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections; drug effects and radiation damage. This disease belongs to the categories of "cough", "asthma", and "lung fistula" in traditional Chinese medicine.

Clinical manifestations: Insidious onset and progressive worsening. It manifests as progressive shortness of breath, dry cough with little sputum or a small amount of white sticky sputum, and respiratory failure with hypoxemia as the main feature in the late stage. Physical examination revealed weakened thoracic respiratory movement, and fine moist rales or crackles could be heard in both lungs. There is varying degrees of cyanosis and clubbing. Signs of right heart failure may appear in the late stage.

Causes

Chronic pulmonary fibrosis is an inflammatory disease of the lung interstitium caused by various reasons. The lesions mainly involve the lung interstitium, and may also involve alveolar epithelial cells and pulmonary blood vessels. Some causes are clear, while others are unclear.

⒈ Environmental factors: inhalation of inorganic dust such as asbestos and coal; organic dust such as moldy grass dust and cotton dust; and inhalation of toxic gases such as smoke and sulfur dioxide.

⒉ Repeated infections caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, etc. are often the cause of acute attacks of the disease and the condition for worsening of the disease.

⒊ Drug effects and radiation damage.

⒋ Secondary to autoimmune diseases such as lupus erythematosus.

Lungs are so important, so we must pay great attention to protecting them. When the weather is cold, we must keep warm to prevent cold air from invading. When the air is too polluted, we must remember to wear a mask. Try to avoid or reduce smoking. These are all protective measures for the lungs. Only in this way can we have healthy and vibrant lungs.