Pulmonary fibrosis, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, is a disease in which the tissue in the lung thickens and stiffens, preventing it from moving oxygen into the bloodstream. The reduction of oxygen in the bloodstream prevents the brain and other organs from receiving enough oxygen to function. IPF has no cure, with mortality being around three to five years from diagnosis. Causes of death linked to IPF include respiratory failure and heart failure.If doctors cannot find a cause of the pulmonary fibrosis, it is labeled “idiopathic.”
Some researchers, however, suspect that some cases of idiopathic pulmonary hypertension are in fact asbestosis but because the patient is not aware of asbestos exposure, they are diagnosed with IPF. A press release from the European Lung Foundation (9/9/14) describes the link between the two.
“Asbestosis is the name given to the lung disease developed by people with a known history of exposure to asbestos. The symptoms and presentation of this disease can be identical to IPF; the only difference between the two diseases is whether a patient knows about their exposure to asbestos.”
READ MORE ASBESTOSIS LEGAL NEWS
Perhaps most telling was that high rates of IPF were seen in areas of England where shipyard work was done, increasing the likelihood that IPF patients were exposed to asbestos, according to Medscape (9/15/14).
Researchers noted that more research would have to be done to confirm the findings. Results of the study were presented in September at the European Respiratory Society’s International Congress.
READER COMMENTS
green Antoinettei
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George Sosa
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The treatment the hospital gave up until the end, because he developed pneumonia in addition, was steriods to combat the anti-biotics that was a treatment for his pneumonia. It should be obvious, hopefully to people reading this, that you should GUARD yourself against any cold or infection of the lungs should you become diagnosed with fibrosis or intersitial lung disease or asbestosis.
My father had some very difficult days towards the end not the least of which was due to the many medications our hospital doctors attempted to use to treat his pneumonia while also taking into account his weakened status.
Antibiotics, as you all know, causes inflamation and this produces a lot of mucous that can impede lung function in people with weakened lungs. Steroids helps this but then it makes curing the pneumonia last longer or impossible.
My father also STILL had pneumonia show up on the autopsy after all of the medicine the doctors gave that basically made his last days miserable.
I hope this helps someone.
Pamela
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