Lung hardening is the thickening and hardening of the lung tissue. The airways are not narrowed in hardening of the lungs. For this reason, the passage of oxygen from the lungs to the blood circulation system becomes very difficult. As a result, the heart and other organs, especially the brain, cannot receive the amount of oxygen they need for their work. It is more common in men over the age of 65 than in women. Its treatment is still unknown. Avrasya Hospital Chest Diseases Specialist Dr. Kanan Abbaslı explained that early diagnosis and planning the right treatment process slows down the course of the disease and gave information about the hardening of the lungs.
WHAT IS LUNG HARDNESS?
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), also known as lung hardening, is the name given to the thickening and hardening of the lung tissue and the appearance of diseased areas resembling honeycomb tissue. In this disease, the airways do not narrow, but the lung tissue thickens and hardens. Therefore, the passage of oxygen from the lungs to the blood circulation system becomes very difficult. As a result, the heart and other organs, especially the brain, cannot receive the amount of oxygen they need for their work. Although the actual cause of the disease is unknown, causes of fibrosis can be detected in some people.
MEN OVER 65 ARE AT RISK
The incidence of pulmonary hardening in our country is similar to other European countries, and unfortunately, the number of people diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is increasing day by day. One of the main reasons for this is that early and direct diagnosis can be made with the increase in human lifespan and clinical information about the disease. Although there is not enough information about the disease directly affecting people with exactly what kind of characteristics, it has been determined that smoking and some genetic factors increase the risk of IPF. Generally, it is more common in men over 65 years of age than in women. Exposure to certain environmental dusts or chemicals taken through the respiratory tract, rheumatic diseases also known as inflammatory rheumatism cause lung hardening.
THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS DRY Cough and Shortness of Breath
There may be no symptoms in the early period of hardening of the lungs, but the most common complaints are shortness of breath with exertion and a dry cough. Shortness of breath occurs insidiously and progresses. Dry cough, on the other hand, shows a stubborn feature that even cough medicines do not work. Although the symptoms seem to be caused by old age or smoking, the cause may actually be lung hardening. In addition, some of the patients have enlargement on the fingertips, which we also describe as clubbing. Along with these developing symptoms, conditions such as weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss and weakness can also be seen.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS VERY IMPORTANT
Lung hardening can be confused with diseases such as COPD and asthma, and therefore differential diagnosis becomes extremely important. Diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is made after the elimination of causes such as environmental and occupational diseases, rheumatic diseases and drugs that may cause the hardening of the lung, and by observing typical findings specific to the disease in imaging methods. In the diagnosis, some methods such as blood tests, physical examination, rheumatology opinion and lung tomography are used if necessary. If there are no typical findings, lung biopsy may be required. The severity of the disease is evaluated by considering pulmonary function tests, lung tomography and exercise tests. Thanks to early diagnosis, it is possible to start treatment without advanced loss in lung functions.
IS LUNG HARMFUL TREATMENT POSSIBLE?
Depending on the advancing age, natural losses in respiratory functions are also experienced in normal individuals. With the disease described as Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, this process has accelerated even more. Although there is no definitive treatment method that improves lung hardening, according to the results of studies conducted in recent years, two active substances can help slow down this disease and alleviate symptoms. Worldwide studies are ongoing for lung hardening. In advanced diseases, people are directed to appropriate centers for lung transplantation.