What is pulmonary fibrosis? 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. The term for the scar tissue is fibrosis. When the scarred tissue becomes too thick, breathing becomes difficult and symptoms arise. 1. Causes of pulmonary fibrosis Surprisingly, there are several risk factors that might trigger pulmonary fibrosis. Chronic inflammation and infections Cigarette smoking Environmental toxins GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) Genetics Viral infections (such as Epstein-Barr, hepatitis C, HIV) Chronic inflammation and infections has been shown to be a contributing factor to developing pulmonary fibrosis. Smoking …show more content…
3. Tests There are several tests used to diagnose pulmonary fibrosis. Usually more than one method is used. Throughout the course of the disease these tests will be performed periodically to monitor the progression of the disease. Chest x-ray HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography) Lung function tests Pulse oximetry Chest x-rays can indicate shadows on the lungs that indicate scar tissue. It is usually one of the first diagnostic tests performed. Occasionally a person has a normal chest x-ray even though they have pulmonary fibrosis. An HRCT scan gives a sharper image of lungs and can detect damaged and scarred tissue. Lung function tests are breathing tests that measures the amount of air that you are able to blow out after taking a deep breath. This test also measures how fast you can breathe air out of your lungs. The pulse oximetry test uses a sensor that is attached to your finger or ear. There is a light in the sensor that indicates your blood oxygen. For a more accurate reading of oxygen in your blood, an arterial blood gas test may be ordered. This test requires a sample of blood from an artery, and is usually taken from the wrist. By testing this blood sample, the oxygen and carbon dioxide can be accurately measured. 4. Tissue samples Your doctor may recommend a bronchoscopy, bronchial lavage, or
5. Typically, a pulmonary function test will not be given until about age 7. However, if Sam was given a pulmonary function test it will demonstrate a decreased FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second) and FVC (forced vital capacity). Based on these hypothetical pulmonary function test results, answer the following questions:
other intense tests can be done to make the diagnosis much clearer such as Doppler echocardiogram, this uses sound waves to show the function of the right ventricle to measure the blood flow through the heart valves, and then calculate the systolic pulmonary artery pressure. There is also an X-ray, this is done on the chest. This can show any increase or decrease in size of the right ventricle and arteries. A simpler test such as the 6-minute walk test, this controls exercise patience level and blood oxygen saturation level during exercise. There is also a Pulmonary function test, this seeks for other lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis compared to others. Also there is a 'Polysomnogram or overnight oximetry', this monitors sleep apnea (results in low oxygen levels at night). Also a right heart catheterization, this measures various heart pressures ( inside the pulmonary arteries, coming from the left side of the heart), the rate at which the heart is able to pump blood, and finds any leaks between the right and left sides of the heart.
Have you ever known a person who smokes and has a hard time doing every day activities, due to difficulty of breath, or constantly coughing. He or she may have Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or COPD. COPD is a progressive and treatable lung disease that causes shortness of breath due to obstruction of air way (COPD, 2013). Progressive means that is gradually gets worse over time. It is a combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema (Causes,2014). Chronic bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchioles, which causes mucus build up (Davis,2016). Emphysema is when the air sacs get enlarged (Smoking, 2016). Since the disease does not have a cure yet it is important to know pathology (path of disease), epidemiology (who is effected in a population), ethology (who is effected genetically), manifestation (symptoms), treatment, and outcome.
COPD is the continued tightening of the airways, causing a blockage to the airflow to the lungs, which causes shortness of breath. It chiefly comprises of emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Both are typically caused by smoking, or less frequently, by work-related exposure to dusts or
Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease of the secretory glands that produce mucus and sweat. This is caused by mutations on chromosome 7 and can affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, sinus and sex organs of the patients.
The Cleveland Clinic offers services for those suffering with Cystic fibrosis, providing diagnostic services and innovative treatment options. At the Cleveland Clinic one can receive chest x-rays, sinus x-rays, lung function tests, genetic testing and newborn screenings for cystic fibrosis. As a part of the treatment program, patients visit the care center four times per year and receive treatment for their symptoms.
Cigarette smoking is the single most important cause of preventable death in the U.S. Smoking is associated with increased fibrosis severity. NA has PMH of cirrhosis and smoking cessation is crucial for
Cigarette smoke should definitely be avoided. Someone with pulmonary fibrosis should not be smoking, and even second hand smoke is unhealthy.
A second medical nutrition diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is and inability or lack of desire to manage self-care. Once IPF progresses, patients gradually lose ability to care for themselves. Additionally, many patients often become depressed causing them to suffer with a lack of desire to care for themselves or to be cared for (National Institutes of Health, 2011). These are usually patients without an adequate support system. As a result, many IPF patients are given the nutrition diagnosis, inability or lack of desire to manage self-care. This can be improved by the aid of either a spouse or family member, or even a nurse. Exercise is one self-care activity that IPF patients gradually lose control of. This can be improved by keeping
A Continuing assessment is important in averting the downward spiral of inactivity and reversal of the condition. Therefore, a simple spirometry test yearly (or more often, if there is a change in condition) is there to monitor disease and an assessment of the effect of shortness of breath, coughing, and sputum production on patients’ daily life. (Corbridge, 2012)
Spirometry is the most popular lung function test. The patient performs a maximal inhalation and then forcefully exhales as quickly and as long as they are able. The spirometer measures the volume of the air exhaled by patients. These measurements are taken at two intervals. The first measurement is the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), records the volume of air exhaled after one second. The second measurement is taken at the point where the patient has fully exhaled the volume of inhaled air; this measurement is the forced vital capacity (FVC) (Harpreet Ranu et al.,
Emphysema is a long-term, progressive disease of the lungs that primarily causes shortness of breath due to overinflation of the air sacs in the lung. People with emphysema, the lung tissue involved in an exchange of gases such as oxygen and carbon dioxide. These can be impaired or destroyed. Emphysema is an obstructive lung disease due to airflow on exhalation is slowed down because of the over-inflated alveoli that don’t exchange gases when a person breaths because of the little movement of gases out of the alveoli.
There is a certain part of the body that is final 2 how the lungs function for them to be able to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide for us to live and this is the pulmonary system. To find out how staple or healthy someone's pulmonary system is doctors can perform tests. One type of test is called the static test, in this test it focuses on the mechanical function of the pulmonary system. The second test is called the dynamic test, in this test refocus on the lungs ability to allow air ventilation. In today's lab we are to focus on the dynamic alone test. We are supposed to find the relationship of the dynamic function of the lungs and it's size.
This increases the force behind the mucus allowing it to loosen from the lung and airway walls [2]. Pulmonary function can be determined through the use of Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs), where the patient breathes into a small device, which then measures how much air is being inhaled and exhaled. [3] Also, the physiotherapist may work in sync with a radiographer to determine the decrease in pulmonary function through the use of x-rays. The physiotherapist also works hand-in-hand with the physician to determine the frequency of physiotherapy sessions and what is required from the physiotherapy sessions. As the patient continues to get older, pulmonary function may decline so much that the physician decides a lung transplant is the best option for the patient. It is very important that the patient continues an exercise program whilst on the transplant waiting list in order to maintain their health [4]. Post-transplant, the patient should follow a daily physiotherapy plan as it has be shown to