Pulmonary fibrosis - Five risk factors
Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that occurs when the tissue deep in your lungs become thick and stiff. Over time, the damaged tissue forms scar tissue. When the scarred tissue becomes too thick, breathing becomes difficult and symptoms arise. It is most likely to affect people of age 50-75, it is a progressive disease, and determining the cause can be challenging.
There are several risk factors associated with pulmonary fibrosis.
Autoimmune diseases
Environmental/occupational exposure & smoking
GERD
Genetics
Medications
Autoimmune disease
1. Autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma as well as specific muscle diseases such as polymyositis, are diseases where our body attacks the body 's own
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Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been found to be a contributing factor associated with pulmonary fibrosis. GERD is a digestive disorder where the stomach 's acid backs up into the esophagus. Prolonged or left untreated, the introduction of the stomach acid into the respiratory system can produce eventual scarring that may lead to pulmonary fibrosis.
Genetics
4. Research evidence indicates that development of pulmonary fibrosis can be linked to genetics. There appears to be a gene that is predisposed to lung disease, and pulmonary fibrosis in particular. For those with a family history of this predisposition, environmental and other risk factors such as smoking are more likely to result in the disease.
Medications
5. Drug induced pulmonary fibrosis is a problem in which an individual with no previous lung problems develops respiratory symptoms that lead to pulmonary fibrosis. For example, chemotherapy drugs are designed specifically for killing cancer cells, but may also damage lung tissue. Some antibiotics, such as nitrofurantoin, and heart medications, such as amiodarone, have also been found to harm lung tissue, especially when used on a long-term
Environmental illnesses can also be caused by the lifestyle of a person which depends on what a person eats or where the person lives. Chemicals in cigarettes can cause lung cancer so if a person is an active smoker, he or she may have lung cancer caused by the chemicals. Nutritional deficiencies occur when the body does not have the required amount of nutrients so this leads to different health problems like a defected bone growth, indigestion or even skin problems. Cardiovascular diseases are normally related to the heart or the blood vessels so these may be diseases like coronary heart diseases, strokes, peripheral arterial disease and more which may cause diabetes, obesity. Mainly, it is the person’s diet and lifestyle which may prevent such diseases.
Al Waysmoking was a 72 year-old retired factory worker who was a chain smoker. He is experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath, but continues to smoke. Upon exam his Nurse Practitioner notes that he has a prolonged expiratory phase, expiratory wheezes, and an increased anteroposterior chest diameter. His nail beds were cyanotic and he had moderate pitting edema. Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) revealed that Al had a decreased VC and an increased RV and FRC.
During the first decades of the 20th century, lung cancer and other
Discovered in 1989, Cystic Fibrosis is the most common, fatal genetic disease in the United States. Statistics show that 30,000 people in the US have been named with this disease. (Genome) Cystic Fibrosis is a disease caused when the CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Regulator) is defective and the cells do not release the right amount of chloride. This causes for the body to produce thick, sticky mucus that clogs up the lungs, leads to infection, blocks the pancreas, which stops the digestive enzymes from reaching the intestine. Symptoms require; salty tasting skin, wheezing, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, poor growth or weight gain, frequent/bulky stool, and male infertility.
Being that genetics plays a big role in the effects on Crohn’s disease, this condition tends to cluster in families which causes increased risk factors. Often
Cystic Fibrosis Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the lungs and the digestive system. Because this disease limits breathing ability, it is a life-threatening disease. In the United States alone, 30,000 people have cystic fibrosis and 1,000 new cases of CF are diagnosed every year. Over half the of the people with CF are over the age of 18. (About Cystic Fibrosis)
The definition of exploration is the action of traveling in or through an unfamiliar area in order to learn about it. This definition describes one man in lots of ways. He traveled in an unfamiliar subject, which is polio, and wanted to learn about it. Exploration is very important to human survival in all subjects, from history to math to science. Jonas Salk is a perfect example for exploration.
Some of the early signs and symptoms of lung cancer are a persistent cough, shortness of breath, bloody sputum, loss of appetite, and unintentional weight loss. Recognizing these signs and symptoms gives a better chance for diagnosing lung cancer at an early stage when the treatment is more effective than in later stages (Ohio Department of Health, 2010). Sometimes it is harder to recognize the sign and symptoms in smokers than non-smokers due to already having chronic coughing or hoarseness due to smoking. Having regular follow-up with a physician may help to diagnose the lung disease or lung cancer at an early
Cancer was also more likely to be caused which the most common types were thyroid, breast, lungs and salivary glands. Another major problem caused was birth defects such as
Oral steroids will prevent the progression of COPD, but using oral steroids for an extended amount of time can cause cataracts and weight gain. Long-term use of oral steroids can also cause diabetes and osteoporoses. Theophylline is an inexpensive medication that is used to improve breathing and prevent COPD from progressing to the later stages. Doctors usually prescribe low does of the medication. After taking Theophylline, you might have a rapid heartbeat, tremor and headache.
Other risk factors include high blood pressure, being inactive, and age. Increasing age puts a person at a higher risk for type 2
Connective/Transition: Alright, with that said, let’s start off with the risk factors. BODY I. Age is likely what comes to a lot of your minds when you think of Alzheimer’s disease, but what else is there? A. Well, according to Mayo Clinic’s page titled Alzheimer’s disease – symptoms and causes last updated December 30, 2017, genetic factors such as your family history, having Down syndrome, or even your gender can create a risk for Alzheimer’s disease.
The longer someone smokes the more damage it does to the cells that line your lungs. “As time passes by, the damage causes the cells to act abnormally and eventually cancer may develop.” 3. There are two general types of lung cancer that someone can get. Small cell lung cancer and Non-small cell lung cancer.
A person does inherit a tendency to develop the disease. It may appear when the body goes through hormonal and physical changes or after dealing with highly stressful situations (MHA,
Another is Bronchitis and is a cough disease that is caused by smoking, but not only smokers but children of smokers too. Heart disease is another effect; smokers