What is cicatricial stenosis of the esophagus and scars on the internal organs, and how to live with it? Scars in the lungs, which almost everyone has, are very insidious.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease characterized by the replacement of healthy lung tissue with scar tissue. At the same time, breathing gradually becomes more difficult, over time it becomes more and more difficult to breathe.

Scarring of lung tissue causes it to thicken and lose the elasticity that healthy lungs have. Like scars on the skin, lung scars remain forever. Small scars may not cause noticeable symptoms, but excessive scarring makes it difficult to carry oxygen to the blood. This means that the brain and other organs may not receive the required amount of oxygen.

In this article, we will look at the treatment and prevention of pulmonary fibrosis, as well as some of the causes and symptoms.

Fibrosis of the lungs is divided into different signs. Let's look at all types of pathology.

Depending on the damage to the lungs:

1. unilateral - fibrosis affects one lung;
2. bilateral - fibrosis of both lungs.

Depending on location:

1. focal - fibrosis is localized only in a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe lung;
2. total - fibrosis affects completely the entire lung.

Depending on the cause:

1. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a type of lung scarring whose cause cannot be determined.
2. Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis is a type of lung scarring that has an obvious cause or is established over time.

Causes of fibrosis

Interstitial lung disease is characterized by inflammation of the air sacs, or the web of tissue surrounding the air sacs (interstitium) in the lungs. Inflammation can sometimes lead to the accumulation of scar tissue in the lungs, which further leads to fibrosis.

Interstitial lung diseases are most often idiopathic, which means that their exact cause is unknown. Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is the most common form. The disease usually affects people aged 70-75 years and is very rare in people under 50 years of age.

One in 20 people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis has a close relative who also had the disease.

Risk factors for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis include:

• viral infection;
• acid reflux from the stomach to the lungs;
• smoking;
• gender, since the diagnosis is more common in men.

The causes of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis can be different. Past infections can cause scarring in the lungs. These infections include:

1. pneumonia (bacterial, fungal or viral);
2. tuberculosis.

Other conditions that can cause fibrosis include:

1. sarcoidosis;
2. cystic fibrosis;
3. asbestosis;
4. lung injury;
5. allergies;
6. mycosis of the lungs;
7. alveolitis;
8. diabetes.

Pulmonary fibrosis can also be a side effect of some cancer treatments. Chemotherapy drugs can damage the lungs. Irradiation can provoke pathology if an organ in the chest cavity is irradiated.

Types of cancer that may require radiation in the chest include breast cancer, lung cancer, and Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Pulmonary fibrosis can also be a side effect of certain medications. Medications that can cause fibrosis include:

• cytotoxic agents (bleomycin, methotrexate);
• antiarrhythmic drugs (amiodarone);
• antibiotics (nitrofurantoin, sulfonamides).

Symptoms

Scars on the lung tissue make it thick and hard. As lung tissue becomes scarred, it becomes increasingly difficult to carry oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream. As a result, the brain and other organs do not receive enough oxygen.

Symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis depend on the intensity of scarring and the degree of damage to the lung.

• shortness of breath, especially during or after physical activity;
• persistent dry cough;
• fatigue;
• weight loss and loss of appetite;
• rounded and swollen fingertips;
• fever;
• chills;
• increased night sweats.

In cases of idiopathic fibrosis, scarring usually begins at the edge of the lungs and gradually develops towards the center.

Symptoms of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis usually develop gradually and worsen over time. Often people do not notice any symptoms until the disease is identified.

Because idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is more common in older people, it can be more difficult to determine what is causing the symptoms. However, if light activity causes a person to have difficulty breathing, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Life expectancy in pulmonary fibrosis

Life expectancy varies greatly depending on many factors, such as physiological characteristics, health status, stage of the disease, the cause of the disease, etc.

There are many variables in interstitial fibrosis and it is inappropriate to talk about a specific life expectancy.

In idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, the approximate survival time is 2 to 4 years. However, with proper treatment and adherence to the doctor's recommendations, this period can be increased.

Is lung fibrosis a cancer?

Lung scarring is not cancer. Although scar tissue grows uncontrollably, it is not a malignant tumor. However, the consequences and threat to life in this disease are comparable to cancer.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis includes the following items:

• questioning the patient, identifying complaints about the symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis;
• analysis of the medical history, finding out whether the patient had tuberculosis, pneumonia, etc.;
• physically examining, identifying symptoms, listening and tapping the lungs;
• spirography - detection of violations of respiratory function, measurement of lung volume;
• X-rays of light;
• CT scan of the lungs;
• MRI of the lungs;
• biopsy.

Both skin scars and lung scars are permanent and usually cannot be removed. However, the lungs are elastic and can often function with little scarring without any side effects.

Proper diagnosis and monitoring of scars is the key to treatment. If the scars remain the same for 2 years or more, it usually means they were caused by an old infection and are harmless. However, if lung scarring has spread, this is a sign of fibrosis.

There is currently no cure for fibrosis, but there are treatment options that can help relieve symptoms and slow the progression of the disease. These include the following actions:

• quit smoking;
• eat healthy and varied food;
• do moderate exercise;
• drug therapy to slow the progression of the disease;
• oxygen masks;
• practice of pulmonary rehabilitation;
• with a lung transplant, in severe cases.

Medical treatment may include:

• drugs to inhibit the formation of scar tissue (cytostatics);
• antibiotics to relieve inflammation;
• if severe respiratory disorders, cough, shortness of breath are observed, bronchodilators are prescribed;
• to suppress an overactive immune system, immunosuppressants are prescribed;
• to reduce the stress of the body, improve metabolism, glucocorticosteroids are prescribed.

Ways to relieve symptoms

There are many lifestyle changes that can help reduce the severity of their symptoms.

Before making any lifestyle changes, you should consult your doctor!

These changes may include:

• quit smoking to increase blood oxygen levels;
• regular exercise;
• weight loss to improve breathing capacity;
• taking precautions to prevent infection;
• avoid contaminants and dust.

Exercise for pulmonary fibrosis

Pulmonary fibrosis, the treatment of which should be prescribed by a doctor, progresses less if breathing exercises are done regularly. Try doing the following exercises:

1. Take a deep breath, filling your lungs completely with air.
2. Leaving air in the lungs, hold your breath for 12-17 seconds. Keep the air in your lungs, not your mouth. Do not open your lips while doing this.
3. Then quickly exhale some air.
4. Exhale what is left in the lungs calmly, measured for 6-9 seconds.
5. Repeat the procedure 6-7 times a day.

Such gymnastics for the lungs will not take much time, but will bring great benefits.

Forecast

The outlook for people who develop fibrosis will depend entirely on the cause of the scarring and overall health.

Scars caused by infection are usually harmless, depending on the extent of the scar. The symptoms of idiopathic fibrosis worsen over time, although the rate of progression may change. Some people live without symptoms for many years, while for others, shortness of breath progresses more quickly and becomes debilitating.

There is no cure for idiopathic fibrosis other than a lung transplant, but there are drugs that can slow the progression of the disease and relieve symptoms.

People with extensive fibrosis should have regular check-ups with a doctor. The life expectancy of people with diseases associated with lung scarring varies greatly depending on the underlying condition and the age of the individual.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a serious disease, so you should not let it take its course, you need to change your lifestyle and regularly see a doctor.

Any lung disease that a person can be ill with must leave their traces. Even by the type of lung, a specialist can determine how many times and at about what age a person has had pneumonia or other lung diseases.

Preventing the disease process and avoiding scarring is not at all difficult. To do this, you should undergo a medical examination on time and begin treatment at the first signs of the disease. If time is lost and a scar has formed, patients need to stop smoking, avoid dusty places, try not to catch a cold and visit the coniferous forest more often.

It is possible to detect a scar on the lung even with the usual "wiretapping" with a phonendoscope, however, only radiography can make a final diagnosis. A scar is formed (according to pulmonologists) in the process of "healing" of the focus of infection, in place of which connective tissue begins to grow, replacing the voids. It is this substitution that leads to the fusion of the alveoli (the smallest particles of lung tissue). Being in this state, they cannot exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. In addition, a significant problem is that the alveoli begin to empty and may fill with exudate over time, as a result of which the respiratory function will be impaired.

The reason for the development of scars are, in principle, any changes in the respiratory system. Measles, whooping cough, pneumonia, tuberculosis or bronchitis, not completely or not treated in time, can lead to the formation of connective tissues. However, the appearance of scars does not always depend on colds. Working in gassed or dusty environments can also lead to pneumoconiosis or "dusty" bronchitis. Quite often, scar tissue develops when toxic drugs are inhaled. Often the cause of scarring is amoebiasis or toxoplasmosis. In the developmental stage, the infection "nests" in the lung tissue and destroys it. After that, a scar remains in this place.

Difficulty inhaling also indicates cicatricial disease. In this case, the disease will manifest itself as a cyanotic skin under the nose. Another clear sign of the disease are dry rales.

Drug therapy of this pathology is limited to symptomatic treatment. In case of allergic manifestations, the patient is prescribed glucocorticosteroids, the fight against shortness of breath is carried out with the help of bronchodilators, but if sputum is present when coughing, then the treatment is supplemented with mucolytics. When cardiopulmonary insufficiency is noticeable, cardiac glycosides are prescribed. In addition to drug treatment, patients are prescribed exercise therapy and electrophoresis, and blood flow to the lungs is provided by chest massage. However, all these activities are performed if the scar causes any discomfort. Otherwise, you can do with traditional medicine. Quite often, after this, the scars on the lungs resolve on their own. Of the folk recipes, those used to treat pneumonia and pneumosclerosis are most suitable. Inhalations with licorice, yarrow, chamomile, birch buds, and string help best of all. The components can be used both in a mixture and separately by brewing them with boiling water (four tablespoons of vegetable raw materials per liter of boiling water). After the mixture boils for five minutes on low heat, it should be removed from the heat and wrapped for another twenty minutes with a towel to infuse better. Breathe in the steam until it cools down.

In addition, one of the main methods of treatment is sports. People who have a scar on their lung will benefit from jogging and walking. These exercises will help saturate the blood with oxygen, which is so necessary for normal human life, and in fact, with cicatricial disease, the lungs cannot fully fulfill their task. For those who do not like sports, you can also choose activities to your liking. For example, breathing exercises. There are many different methods that improve the functioning of the respiratory system. In this case, the main thing is the regularity of classes. Of course, neither medical nor folk methods will be able to completely get rid of the scar on the lung, since all of them are intended only to relieve the symptoms of the disease, and, unfortunately, you can’t get anywhere with the connective tissue.

The size of the scars can vary significantly. Moreover, the symptoms will directly depend on the degree of damage to the organ. For example, patients with (diffuse) pneumosclerosis that has engulfed the entire organ will be disturbed by severe shortness of breath, but it will manifest itself only with heavy physical activity.

In conclusion, it should be warned once again that self-medication can be dangerous not only for health, but also for life. Therefore, before starting to treat any ailment, including scars on the lungs, the patient should see a specialist.

Characterized by the appearance of scars, reminiscent of after injuries. They are often found in people employed in the field of construction, metallurgy, etc., who, in the process of work, are forced to inhale industrial and industrial dust. Scars in the lungs appear as a result of a number of diseases: cirrhosis, tuberculosis, pneumonia, and an allergic reaction. The development of fibrosis depends, among other things, on environmental conditions and climate. The process of scar formation is accompanied by the following symptoms: cough, rapid breathing, cyanosis of the skin, increased blood pressure, shortness of breath. Shortness of breath is first observed only during physical exertion, and then appears at rest. A complication of this condition is chronic respiratory failure, secondary accession, chronic cor pulmonale, pulmonary.

Fibrosis prevention

To avoid scarring in the lungs, it is important to exclude factors that can cause such changes. Patients should not overwork, with an exacerbation of the underlying disease, they are prescribed drugs that expand the bronchi, as well as inhalations. The appearance of scars in the lungs will help to avoid compliance with safety regulations, the use of personal protective equipment, timely treatment of inflammatory diseases of the respiratory system, and smoking cessation. The development of fibrosis can lead to the intake of certain antiarrhythmic drugs, in which case periodic monitoring of the condition of the lungs is necessary. As the appearance of scars, physical exercises, proper nutrition, cleansing the body of toxins and toxins, avoiding stressful situations are recommended.

Age-related fibrotic changes in the lungs

Scars in the lungs can appear due to the aging of the body, while the organs lose their elasticity and lose their ability to expand and contract. The airways in the elderly are clogged due to a long stay in a horizontal position, shallow breathing. A fairly common age-related change in lung tissue is interstitial fibrosis, in which fibrous tissue grows and the walls of the alveoli thicken. At

Scar on the lungs

Asked by: George

Gender: Male

Age: 30

Chronic diseases: not specified

Hello. Need a second opinion! The hospital said that he had suffered a dangerous disease on his legs and there was a scar. I would like to know how correctly the doctor made the diagnosis. And is there no such disease, now? Very worried. Thanks in advance!

Cannot diagnose infiltrative tuberculosis or segmental pneumonia? My husband cannot now be diagnosed with infiltrative tuberculosis or segmental pneumonia. I used to have a high fever and cough. After antibiotic treatment, everything went away, now there is no fever, no cough, clear sputum according to the tests, there is a slight pain under the ribs, but there are changes in the pictures, and not much SRI is exceeded in the blood, the doctor cannot yet make a diagnosis. What do you think it could be?

10 responses

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George! This is a picture of a girl! Are you sure this is your photo? The picture shows calcifications in the left root, which are most likely the outcome of tuberculosis transferred on the legs. But now in the picture, or rather in the photo of the picture, the norm!

Olga 2014-09-16 17:59

Alexander Yurievich, thank you very much! Yes, indeed, this is a picture of a girl. Just an e-mail, belongs to George) Tell me, please, what are the risks after such a disease, can I get sick again? And whether my frequent tussis depends on this postponed disease? (although recently, I had tracheitis, however, the doctor made such a conclusion on my symptoms, I really caught a cold). And how is such a disease possible if I have pathological cleanliness, and every six months I donate blood and urine for tests. And how can you transfer without noticing? And in principle, I communicate only as it seems to me with healthy people. Am I contagious now? And the disease is in a state of complete recovery or is it a fading? I'm scared! Because the doctor said that I had some kind of disease, but he said that it did not appear this year!

Good morning!

There are no risks in the presented picture.

It is not a fact that calcifications are from tuberculosis, but most likely from it. Even if the calcifications are from tuberculosis, they are an outcome, they are an old scar!

Calcifications are deposits of calcium in the lymph nodes, in which fierce battles between your body and a tubercle bacillus once took place. The organism won, and calcifications are tombstones over the defeated tuberculosis infection! These are monuments in honor of the victory of your organism. Many adults in our penates have such monuments. Most of us are infected with the tuberculosis bacillus. This is not news or discovery, but a fact!

There is no additional risk of recurrence after self-healing TB if you are otherwise healthy and lead a healthy lifestyle. Tuberculosis is carried on the legs in an asymptomatic or asymptomatic form. The latter can proceed as a banal SARS or as some unnoticed episode of weakness and fatigue.

The picture corresponds to the stage of recovery from the process that caused the calcification!

Olga 2014-09-22 16:43

Hello! Thank you very much for such a comprehensive answer! 1) I am attaching a picture for the previous year 2013. I cough often when I'm sick, I think. But my relatives say that I often cough, they notice it. I would like to add that I have chronic tonsillitis and chronic rhinitis. 2) When the doctor made a diagnosis, he said that the scar was growing. What does it mean?

There are no dynamics in the pictures! Nothing will come! Scars in the same pore! There is no such adult who does not have a single scar on the skin. The same applies to the lungs.

In the picture of the lungs you have the norm! Existing old scars are the norm!

Chronic tonsillitis and chronic rhinitis should be sorted out with an ENT, the first is radically treated promptly, the second is often the cause of chronic cough.

Olga 2014-10-18 21:58

Thank you very much! You helped a lot! Thank you!

Nina 2016-05-12 20:35

Hello. The baby was born at the 28th week 1060 g 35 cm. After being discharged with acute renal failure, there were many diagnoses, DN2 degree, now the baby is 10 months old and the main diagnosis remains BPD hydrocephalus and rickets, the baby has shortness of breath with little movement, not to mention when he crawls, breathes like dog, the nasopharynx expands, it doesn’t turn blue around the nose, but it turns blue around the eye, with all this, we were diagnosed with DN0 a month ago. What can you say about our picture and our situation? Can there be such respiratory insufficiency in such a state? The doctor said that there were more scars and the lungs were swollen, what does this mean, I still did not understand
Thanks in advance for your help

In many cases, pneumonia does not go away without a trace. The consequences of pneumonia in adults and children are due to the fact that the infection impairs the functioning of the respiratory organs, and this negatively affects the state of the body, in particular, the supply of oxygen to tissues. When the lungs are not able to get rid of bacteria and mucus on their own, quite serious complications arise.

Some people have back pain after pneumonia, others suffer from chest pain. Sometimes it is found that a spot remains after pneumonia. Almost everyone has scars in the lungs after pneumonia. Sometimes they are quite small and will not affect the quality of life in any way, while in other cases they reach quite large sizes, which affects the functioning of the respiratory system. After curing pneumonia, you must be attentive to your health, discussing with your doctor all alarming manifestations.

Most often, the cause of the problem is that pneumonia is undertreated or transferred “on the legs”. Pain in the lungs can be manifested by slight tingling when inhaling or by acute attacks. This sometimes causes palpitations and shortness of breath. The severity of pain depends on how severe the disease was, as well as on the efficiency and quality of treatment.

If a lung hurts after pneumonia, then most likely we are talking about an adhesive process in the body. Spikes are called pathological fusion of organs. They are formed as a result of chronic infectious pathologies, mechanical injuries, internal bleeding.

As a result of pneumonia, adhesions between the pleura can occur. One of them lines the chest, the other - the lung. If the inflammation has flowed from the lung to the pleura, then due to the release of fibrin, the pleura sheets stick together with each other. A commissure is an area of ​​glued pleura sheets.

Adhesions on the lungs after pneumonia can be single or multiple. In a critical case, they envelop the pleura completely. At the same time, it shifts and deforms, breathing becomes difficult. Pathology can have an extremely severe course and be aggravated by acute respiratory failure.

Sometimes situations arise when all the symptoms of the disease regress, and shortness of breath does not stop. If it is difficult to breathe after pneumonia, it means that the inflammatory process has not resolved completely, that is, pathogens continue to have a destructive effect on the lung tissue.

Among the possible consequences are pleural empyema, adhesive pleurisy, lung abscess, sepsis, multiple organ failure. By the way, a fairly common question is whether tuberculosis can occur after pneumonia. There is no danger in this respect.

Pneumonia and tuberculosis are caused by different microorganisms. Nevertheless, on x-rays, these diseases are very similar. In practice, pneumonia is usually diagnosed first and treated appropriately. If there is no improvement after therapy, the patient is referred to a phthisiatrician. If tuberculosis is diagnosed after the examination, this does not mean that it has developed as a consequence of pneumonia. The person was simply sick from the very beginning with tuberculosis.

So, if it is difficult to breathe after pneumonia, you need to discuss with your doctor the methods of strengthening the lungs. A good effect can give therapeutic exercises. In her arsenal, techniques such as deep breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, etc.

Sometimes after pneumonia, the temperature is 37 degrees. You should not be particularly worried - such a clinic is considered normal, but only if there are no infiltrative blackouts on the radiograph, and the clinical blood test is normal. The main causes of temperature are:

• incomplete elimination of foci of inflammation;
• damage to organs by toxins;
• accession of a new infection;
• the presence in the body of pathogenic microorganisms that can actively multiply during periods of weakened immunity and transform into the L-form during periods of increased antibody production.

The consequences of pneumonia in children require special attention. For a child, a temperature tail is a rather rare occurrence. It may indicate that the baby's immunity is weak or structural changes have occurred in the body from the respiratory system.

Bacteremia after pneumonia

This phenomenon is characterized by the fact that in the blood there is a huge number of pathogens. Bacteremia is one of the threatening consequences after pneumonia. It should be suspected with symptoms such as high fever, extreme weakness, cough with green, yellow sputum.

It is necessary to treat bacteremia as soon as possible, since the infection can spread throughout the body and affect the most important organs. Requires a course of potent antibiotics and hospitalization.

With such a serious illness as pneumonia, negative consequences for the body can be associated not only with the specifics of the disease, but also with the methods of treatment. Taking antibacterial drugs for pneumonia can later lead to intoxication.

It often happens that the doctor prescribes an effective antibiotic, but the patient's body simply does not accept it, for example, after the first dose, vomiting begins. Even if the patient responds well to the drug, antibiotics cause serious damage to the intestinal microflora. To avoid this, the doctor prescribes a course of probiotics.

Of course, even if you have chest pain after pneumonia or the picture is not perfect, this does not necessarily indicate the presence of a threatening or irreversible process. You should not panic and look for answers in medical forums. It is much wiser to find a specialist whom you can really trust. He will assess how serious the residual effects after pneumonia are and tell you how to remove them.