Interstitial lung disease is a group of health conditions that results in scarring of the lungs, which leads to breathing difficulties from mild to severe. This lung disease includes more than 200 different conditions that cause inflammation and scarring around the balloon-like air sacs in the lungs called the alveoli. The oxygen travels via the alveoli into the bloodstream, when the lungs are scarred, these sacs do not expand well, thus very less oxygen enters the blood. Airways, lung lining and blood vessels in the lungs can also be affected.
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Types Of Interstitial Lung Disease
Some of the common types of interstitial lung disease include:
Asbestosis: This condition is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers resulting in inflammation and scarring in the lungs.
Bronchiolitis Obliterans: It causes blockages in the smallest airways of the lungs, the bronchioles.
Coal Worker’s Pneumoconiosis: This lung problem is caused by exposure to coal dust. It is also known as black lung disease.
Chronic Silicosis: It is a lung problem caused by breathing in silica.
Connective Tissue-Related Pulmonary Fibrosis: This lung problem affects a few people with connective tissue diseases like scleroderma or Sjogren syndrome.
Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonitis: This lung condition causes inflammation, and it is common among smokers.
Familial Pulmonary Fibrosis: It is a genetic lung condition. A build-up of scar tissue in the lungs affects two or more members of the same family.
Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: An inflammation of the alveoli caused by inhaling allergens or other irritants.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: The exact cause of this lung disease is still not evident; it results in the development of scar tissue in the entire lung tissue.
Sarcoidosis: This lung condition causes small clumps of inflammatory cells to form in the organs like lungs and lymph nodes.
Symptoms Of Interstitial Lung Disease
People suffering from interstitial lung disease, lung damage, irritation and poor oxygen supply can result in several symptoms, which include:
- Unusual sounds when breathing
- Extreme fatigue
- Shortness of breath, while exercising or climbing stairs
- Chest pain
- Tapping of fingers or toes
Symptoms usually range in severity and may be quite similar to those linked with other respiratory problems.
Consult your healthcare provider if you notice shortness of breath or other unusual symptoms and start immediate treatment.
Also Read: How Smoking Damages The Lungs
Causes Of Interstitial Lung Disease
In most cases, doctors cannot find the exact cause of this condition and in those cases, the condition is termed idiopathic interstitial lung disease.
Other causes are grouped into three main categories:
Autoimmune conditions are known to cause interstitial lung disease which includes:
- Dermatomyositis
- Lupus
- Mixed connective tissue disease
- Polymyositis
- Vasculitis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Scleroderma
- Sjögren syndrome
Also Read: Pulmonary Embolism: Know The Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Blood Clot In The Lungs
Exposure To Toxic Substances
Exposure to toxic substances at work or in the environment can result in lung scarring, these include:
- Asbestos fibers
- Animal farming
- Coal dust, grain dust, mould, silica dust
- Tobacco smoke
Medications
Certain medications can damage the lungs like antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, chemotherapy drugs and heart medications.
Complications
Interstitial lung disease can lead to certain complications like:
- Lung infections
- Collapsed lung
- Respiratory failure
- Right-sided heart failure
- Lung cancer
- Venous thromboembolism
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Delayed growth (in children)
Early diagnosis and prompt medical treatment can help reduce the risk of complications.
Treatment
Though treatments cannot reverse lung scarring if it has been already developed, however, may help to avert further scarring or slow down the progression of the disease.
It is important to avoid exposure to a toxic material or drug that causes interstitial lung disease. Some of the treatment options recommended by the healthcare provider to manage interstitial lung disease include:
- Supplemental oxygen can help the patient improve oxygen levels if it is very low
- Pulmonary rehabilitation therapy may support patients to do routine work and improve their ability to exercise
- Anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed to ease inflammation in the lungs
- Immune-suppressing drugs may help avert immune system attacks that damage the lungs.
- Antifibrotic drugs are also prescribed
If the condition of the patient is very serious and other treatments don’t help, then the healthcare provider may suggest a lung transplant. Also, this surgery is not suggested for people over the age of 75 years and who have other comorbid serious health problems.
