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Pulmonary Fibrosis
When you have pulmonary fibrosis, your lungs become thickened and scarred. The scarring can keep the lungs
from working as well as they should. You may find it harder to take deep breaths. Other symptoms may include
a dry cough or mild chest discomfort.
The Lungs’ Important Job
Your lungs’ most important job is to get oxygen to your blood. When you breathe in, you inhale air rich in
oxygen. When you breathe out, you exhale carbon dioxide, a waste gas your body doesn’t need. Oxygen and
carbon dioxide are exchanged in tiny sacs in the lungs called the alveoli. Oxygen moves from the air in the
alveoli to blood vessels around the alveoli. The blood vessels then carry oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the
body. Carbon dioxide also moves from the blood vessels to the air in the alveoli, and is exhaled.
When Lungs Are Damaged
Pulmonary fibrosis is scarring of the lung tissue between the alveoli and the blood vessels. If enough scarring
and thickening of this tissue occurs, oxygen can’t easily move from the air in the alveoli to the blood in the
vessels. As a result, the blood doesn’t deliver enough oxygen to the body.
Causes of Pulmonary Fibrosis
In many cases, pulmonary fibrosis is idiopathic (has no known cause). Known causes of pulmonary fibrosis
include:
• Exposure to dust from asbestos or silica, gases, fumes, or poisons at work or at home
• Chemicals and drugs (chemotherapy or some medications)
• Radiation therapy
• Lung infections
• Connective tissue disease (such as scleroderma, systemic lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis)
• Sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease causing inflammation of body organs, often the lungs
Treating Pulmonary Fibrosis
Pulmonary fibrosis can’t be cured. The disease often progresses very slowly, though, and treatment can help
control the disease and help you feel better. Your treatment team will discuss possible treatments with you.
Some treatment options include:
• Medications that help reduce inflammation in the lungs, suppress the body’s immune system, and help
lessen scarring.
• Supplemental oxygen to help increase the amount of oxygen that gets to the blood. Some people use oxygen
all the time, others only when they sleep or exercise.
• Breathing techniques that can help you cope with shortness of breath.
• Pulmonary rehabilitation, a program of exercise and education that can help you gain strength and
independence.
© 2000-2011 The StayWell Company, 780 Township Line Road, Yardley, PA 19067. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for
professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.