Diagnostic Methods And Treatments For Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Immunizations For Pneumonia And Influenza

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients often need to ensure they receive immunizations for pneumonia and influenza as part of their treatment. An individual affected by idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has lungs that cannot function normally due to a buildup of scar tissue. Scar tissue is a type of dense and fibrous tissue the body utilizes to replace the damaged tissues in the organs. However, scar tissue rarely works the same as the original tissues it has replaced. Because scar tissue makes the inner tissues of the lungs less capable of oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange, the overall function of the lung is compromised. Pneumonia is a life-threatening lung infection caused by viruses or bacteria and is known to have a high mortality rate in individuals with pre-existing lung conditions like idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by a virus that is also more deadly in those who have pre-existing lung conditions. The risk of morbidity from these infections can be reduced if patients receive these immunizations.

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Quit Smoking

An individual who has been diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis will need to quit smoking if they are a regular smoker in order for their disease to respond to treatment. Those who smoke regularly are more likely to develop idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. An individual who smokes tobacco products regularly will experience damage to the tissues in their lungs due to the repeated exposure to thousands of toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke. This damage to the lungs makes them less capable of oxygen-carbon dioxide exchange before any condition or disease is introduced into the mix. Therefore, the combination of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and accumulated damage from repeated exposure to cigarette smoke can cause an individual's lungs to fail entirely. Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products is known to cause a more rapid progression of all forms of pulmonary fibrosis than in individuals who do not smoke. Smoking cessation must occur for an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patient to have the chance to slow the progression of their disease.

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