Alternative methods of treatment of pulmonary fibrosis. Pneumofibrosis of the lungs - treatment with folk remedies. Complex treatment of pathology

Pneumofibrosis is a disease in which connective tissue grows in the lung. Pathology occurs as a complication. Pneumofibrosis is referred to pneumosclerotic diseases along with pneumosclerosis and cirrhosis of the lung.

During the formation of a "honeycomb lung", when small, cystic cavities form in the organ, the respiratory function is significantly reduced. If an infection joins the disease, then the death of the patient is possible.

Causes

There are many factors that increase the risk of developing pulmonary fibrosis:

• • Transferred or existing diseases - pneumonia, syphilis, tuberculosis, chronic obstructive diseases of the respiratory system;
  
  
  • activities or living conditions associated with the constant inhalation of harmful gases, dust;
  • heredity;
  • chest injuries associated with damage to the respiratory organ;
  • stagnant processes;
  • ionizing radiation affecting the chest area;
  • taking drugs with a toxic effect;
  • hypoxia (oxygen starvation) of tissues.

The disease develops approximately according to this scenario.

In the bronchi, the outflow of secretion is disturbed and its accumulation occurs. These are favorable conditions for an increase in the number of pathogens. Also, due to inflammation and congestion, blood and lymph flow is disturbed. In a place where the flow of biological fluids is disturbed, connective tissue grows. It replaces the alveoli near itself.

The tissue of a healthy lung is elastic. Elasticity provides high intrapulmonary pressure, due to which the inner wall of the alveolus opens during inspiration. If the lung tissue is affected by fibrosis, then the pressure decreases, part of the alveoli does not open, and less oxygen enters.

When the disease progresses, the lung tissue gradually ceases to perform its function, which causes respiratory failure and disruption of gas exchange.

Kinds

According to the volume of organ damage, local and diffuse pneumofibrosis are distinguished.

With local pneumofibrosis, individual sections of the lung are affected. The quality of life of the patient does not deteriorate much, since the loss of elasticity and tissue thickening are observed only in the affected area, the respiratory function worsens slightly.

Diffuse pneumofibrosis is much more dangerous. Then immediately in both lungs the tissue becomes denser and the volume of the organ decreases, the structure changes. The process proceeds quickly, the respiratory function weakens.

Both forms are characterized by a progressive and non-progressive stage. In the progressive stage, serious complications occur, up to abscesses. Exacerbations can disturb throughout the life of the patient. More favorable is the non-progressive stage, which proceeds practically without clinical manifestations. More chances for a mild course in people who follow a healthy lifestyle.

Symptoms of the disease

As mentioned above, the local form sometimes goes unnoticed. Symptoms usually appear if both lungs are affected.

The main symptom of pneumofibrosis is shortness of breath. In the initial stage, it appears from strong physical exertion, later - at rest. Other signs of illness:

• • Cough, with tenacious expectoration and pus;
  • cyanosis of the skin;
  • chest pain, especially when coughing;
  • weakness;
  • changes in body temperature;
  • weight loss for no apparent reason.

In the later stages, the doctor detects wheezing in the lungs and a squeak on exhalation, which is especially well heard in front, in the upper part of the chest. The patient has swelling of the cervical veins. However, symptoms of the disease that provoked pneumofibrosis may appear.

How to treat the disease

Before prescribing therapy, an examination is carried out in order to establish a diagnosis. The main method of diagnosis is radiography. Additionally, bronchoscopy, assessment of respiratory function, general laboratory tests are performed. This set of studies also reveals the root cause of pulmonary fibrosis.

So far, there is no effective therapy against pneumofibrosis.

Pneumofibrosis without symptoms is not always treated with medication.

If the disease has not passed into the acute phase, treatment is carried out at home. The main task of therapeutic measures is to eliminate the cause of the disease. When the cause is the ingress of dust particles, other harmful substances, then, first of all, they stop contact with the provocateur of the disease. The patient is contraindicated excitement and stress.

If the cause is an infection, antibiotics are indicated depending on the pathogen. Supportive care is also prescribed.

Breathing exercises are useful, which helps to increase the functionality of the respiratory apparatus.

In advanced forms, surgical treatment is possible. After a course of therapy, the patient is registered with a pulmonologist for a year or more.

Treatment with folk remedies

Often, with pneumofibrosis, they resort to the help of traditional medicine. In mild forms, it is this treatment that becomes the main one. They use herbal decoctions and teas, compresses for the rapid withdrawal of sputum, lotions and warming.

Since ancient times, pine buds have been used for lung diseases. This valuable product contains a lot of essential oils that have a beneficial effect on the respiratory tract - they help to expel sputum, destroy pathogenic microbes, and activate the secretory ability of the epithelium.

For a decoction, take 10 g of kidneys, pour a glass of water, and heat in a water bath for half an hour, leave for another 15 minutes. Then the broth is filtered and drunk warm 3 times daily at a dose of 1 tablespoon.

Prevention methods

The main prevention of pneumofibrosis is smoking cessation, since it is the inhalation of toxic substances that are contained, among other things, in tobacco smoke, and the disease develops. It is important to treat respiratory diseases at the first symptoms. A healthy lifestyle will keep the immune system strong and strengthen the body.

When performing professional duties associated with risk factors, they use protective equipment - respirators.

Pneumofibrosis causes irreversible changes in lung tissue. Therefore, it cannot be completely cured. But the process can be slowed down. Therapy, which the doctor will prescribe after clarifying the diagnosis, is aimed at supporting the condition. It is important to take preventive measures.

Causes and mechanism of development of pneumofibrosis

The causes of the disease are different:

• • infectious and inflammatory diseases - mycoses, tuberculosis, syphilis;
  • prolonged exposure to allergens;
  • mechanical injury;
  • high doses of radiation;
  • exposure to chemical compounds;
  • hereditary disorders in which fibrillar protein is intensively produced - collagen, fibronectin;
  • severe liver damage with drug addiction;
  • long-term use of drugs that have a toxic effect on the lung parenchyma.

The risk group includes people with a history of COPD, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia. Men are more likely to get sick, whose professional activities are associated with the risk of a negative impact of production processes on the respiratory system - miners, miners, metallurgists.

In pneumofibrosis, chronic inflammation is accompanied by a violation of the outflow of lymph from the affected organ.. It accumulates in the interalveolar septa and vessels of the lung. The movement of blood along the capillary bed is disturbed, the vessels become sclerotic and hypoxia develops. This process activates the production of fibroblasts and collagen, which further aggravates the process of blood circulation in the small circle.

Against the background of increased pulmonary pressure, dystrophic changes occur in the right half of the heart, it increases in size. The patient develops cor pulmonale syndrome. This is an extremely serious condition that leads to disability and eventually death.

With the rapid progression of pneumosclerosis (pneumofibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis), a healthy parenchyma is quickly rebuilt. The structure of the acinus itself, the structural unit of the lung, changes. Glandular pseudostructures are formed, capillaries weaken, decrease in volume, bronchioles become sclerosed. The growth of connective tissue in the lungs deforms the alveoli, they are destroyed, and fibrous and cystic neoplasms appear in their place.

Against the background of lung destruction, their main function is disrupted - providing the body with oxygen through gas exchange during breathing.

Patients develop respiratory failure with hypoxia (oxygen starvation) and hypercapnia (excess carbon dioxide in the blood).

Due to impaired perfusion (throughput) of the lungs, the level of oxygen in the body decreases. The ventilation-diffuse balance is disturbed. Due to hypoventilation, the level of carbon dioxide increases.

Kinds

Depending on the location and extent of lung damage, pneumosclerosis can be of several types.

Diffuse pneumofibrosis of the lungs is an overgrowth of connective tissue throughout the organ. With such a pathology, clear boundaries of the modified areas cannot be determined. Not only the lung is deformed, but also the bronchi, the vascular network.

Local pneumofibrosis of the lungs develops very slowly and is asymptomatic at the initial stages. It is characterized by damage to a limited area of ​​\u200b\u200btissues. The x-ray shows seals with clear contours. This type does not affect the functionality of the organ and its mechanical properties.

Focal pneumofibrosis of the lungs also has a clear location, as well as local. But differs in that inflammatory foci, as a rule, are multiple. They can affect one lung or both. The focal form develops against the background of tuberculosis, purulent-inflammatory processes (abscess).

Clinical picture of the disease

The first sign that gives reason to think about the presence of pathology in the body is shortness of breath.. But since it does not cause tangible discomfort at first, patients do not pay attention to it.

At the initial stage of the disease, this symptom manifests itself in the form of mild shortness of breath during physical exertion, which was previously well tolerated by the person. Patients attribute this fact to fatigue, malaise, poor sleep. Gradually, shortness of breath increases when walking on the street, climbing stairs. It is not easy for a person to walk long distances, to talk for a long time. In severe cases, shortness of breath manifests itself in the form of breath holding, lack of air. This state is always accompanied by panic fear.

The nature of breathing in pneumosclerosis is determined by the degree of lung damage. It is superficial, frequent, sometimes intermittent. The patient is unable to take a deep breath. This is how chronic respiratory failure develops. It is compensated for a long time, but inevitably leads to hypoxia.

Symptoms of respiratory failure in pneumosclerosis:

• • cyanosis of the skin (pale skin with a blue tint);
  • tachycardia - rapid heartbeat;
  • dyspnea;
  • the act of breathing is possible with the participation of auxiliary muscle groups;
  • dizziness and headaches;
  • sleep disturbance - insomnia at night, drowsiness during the day;
  • loss of strength, chronic fatigue, decreased performance;
  • loss of consciousness;
  • in the later stages - heart failure, swelling of different parts of the body.

Against the background of airway obstruction, pneumosclerosis is always accompanied by a cough. It comes in different intensities. It intensifies in the morning after sleep, when a person begins to actively move, and calms down by the middle of the day. Cough brings temporary relief. With severe attacks, it causes pain in the chest, usually behind the sternum and from the back along the lower border of the shoulder blades.

"Pulmonary heart", which develops more intensively with pneumofibrosis of the middle lobe of the right lung, is manifested by such clinical signs:

• • severe shortness of breath in a horizontal position (lying down);
  • pulsation in the upper abdomen, in the region of the arch of the diaphragm;
  • heart pains provoked by increased pressure in the pulmonary circulation and stretching of the pulmonary arterial trunk;
  • swelling of the neck veins, which increases on inspiration;
  • blood pressure may be slightly reduced;
  • hypothermia;
  • swelling.

The consequences of such irreversible processes are unfavorable.

Diagnosis of the disease

The study of patients is complex. It includes data collection, laboratory and instrumental techniques.

In order to determine the step-by-step direction in the examination of the patient, an anamnesis is collected. The patient is asked about the place of work, all the symptoms, the duration of the course of the disease, the estimated time of the onset of the first signs.

According to the laboratory data of the general blood test, no obvious changes are observed. Slightly elevated ESR, increased leukocyte count and clotting.

On auscultation - dry scattered or fine bubbling rales, hard breathing. With percussion - the sounds are short, the mobility of the pulmonary edge is limited.

Instrumental examination methods

X-ray of the lungs is the key diagnostic method.. It accurately allows you to determine the presence, localization and extent of lesions. The lung on the right is always slightly lower than the left. The drawing is rebuilt, looks like honeycombs or cells.

Interpretation of the results of x-rays:

• • Basal pneumofibrosis of the lungs is a fibrous lesion of segments of the lower lobe of the lung, a consequence of the transferred inflammatory processes. It is also called postpneumonic fibrosis. In the affected area on the X-ray, increased brightness and a clear pattern are visible.
  • Radical pneumofibrosis of the lungs is the proliferation of connective tissue in the region of the root of the lung, where it connects to the mediastinal organs (heart, aorta). The x-ray shows clear compacted areas.
  • Linear pneumofibrosis of the lungs - the defeat of one or more segments of the lung, linear shadows are visible on the picture.
  • Post-radiation pneumofibrosis is a complication after irradiation (during treatment or as a result of an accident). On the x-ray there are no clear boundaries of the affected tissue, the outlines are blurred.

To diagnose structural changes in pneumofibrosis of the basal and basal sections, computed tomography is prescribed, since these areas are not sufficiently visible and the replacement dystrophic process can spread to nearby organs. TC of the lungs allows layer-by-layer and detailed assessment of the degree of tissue damage, revealing their nature and dynamics of development.

To assess the functions of external respiration, patients are prescribed spirometry - a test that determines deviations in the respiratory function of the lungs. During the study, the following indicators are evaluated:

• • lung volume (the amount of air inhaled at one time);
  • breathing rate;
  • maximum ventilation rates;
  • vital capacity of the lungs;
  • forced breathing;
  • exhalation airflow rate.

Patients are also prescribed bronchoscopy. She assesses the condition of the bronchi in the affected lung. With diffuse pneumosclerosis, no changes are observed, and with local ones, destructive transformations of the bronchial tree are possible.

During a bronchoscopy, a sample of lavage fluid is taken from the lung. Cytological examination of the biomaterial allows you to determine the etiology of the disease.

Treatment of pneumofibrosis

Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis is palliative, aimed at maintaining the general condition of the patient and stopping or slowing down dystrophic processes in the organ.

Drug treatment involves the fight against an infectious factor - fungi, bacteria, viruses:

• • To improve the drainage function of the bronchial tree, antispasmodic drugs are prescribed - Norepinephrine, Teofedrin, Isadrin, Fenoterol.
  • In severe cases, pulmonary fibrosis can be treated with hormonal agents of the corticosteroid group - Cortisone, Prednisolone. They relieve the severity of inflammation, reduce the immune response.
  • To eliminate airway obstruction, relieve cough and sputum discharge, mucolytic drugs (expectorants) are shown - Lazolvan, Erespal, Ascoril.
  • To reduce severe pain in the chest area, patients are recommended non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - Nimesil, Diclofenac, Ibuprofen.
  • To maintain the work of the heart muscle and saturate it with oxygen, cardiac glycosides are shown - Adonizide, Strofantin, Digoxin. To nourish the myocardium, patients take potassium preparations - Panangin, Asparkam.
  • It is mandatory to prescribe angioprotectors - Actovegin, Cardioxipin, Vasonit, Bilobil. They improve microcirculation by relaxing the smooth muscles of blood vessels, increase permeability, relieve swelling.

Structural lesions of the lungs are accompanied by intoxication of the body. To eliminate it, I use a universal detoxifying agent - Penicillamine. The drug affects the immune system, inhibits the production of certain types of leukocytes, and also disrupts collagen synthesis, which is extremely important for pneumofibrosis. The medicine is available in capsules for oral administration.

Pneumofibrosis is a severe chronic pathology that weakens the body. Patients lose weight. Therefore, as part of a complex drug treatment, vitamin preparations of groups B and E are prescribed.

It is not advisable to treat pneumofibrosis of the lungs with folk remedies. Medicinal herbs can be used as a general strengthening therapy to support the immune system.

Patients must be treated twice a year in a hospital.

Physiotherapy

To combat hypoxia of tissues and organs, oxygen therapy is indicated - blood oxygen saturation.

The patient is connected to a special device through which the gas mixture is supplied in the required proportions. Thus, oxygen deficiency is temporarily eliminated.

O 2 supply methods:

• • through a mask if a person breathes on his own;
  • through a nasal catheter (if there is a need for a constant supply of oxygen);
  • through an endotracheal tube if the patient is unconscious;
  • by placing the patient in a pressure chamber.

Other physiotherapeutic procedures (UHF, electrophoresis, the use of currents) are ineffective for pneumofibrotic changes.

To combat shortness of breath, strengthen the respiratory muscles and improve the quality of life, patients undergo a rehabilitation course of physical therapy. Classes are held under the supervision of medical staff with clearly dosed physical activity.

Doing sports on your own is strictly contraindicated. Incorrect calculation of the loads on the heart and lungs can lead to fatal consequences.

Preventive actions

Prevention of pneumofibrosis includes measures that reduce the risk of developing the disease.

In industries with an increased risk of exposure to chemical compounds on the body, the rules of safety, labor protection and rest must be strictly observed. People whose professional activities are associated with risks are recommended to undergo annual treatment in a dispensary, in a mountainous area or near the sea.

Also it is important to exclude household factors - smoking, inhalation of vapors of chemical liquids (chlorine). Once a year, you need to undergo fluorography and medical examination (prophylactic examination of doctors).

If a person leads a healthy and active lifestyle, then the risks of the disease are reduced many times over.

Pneumofibrosis is a severe lung disease with a poor outcome. It is dangerous to human life, and it cannot be completely cured. If pathology is not detected in a timely manner, then the maximum life expectancy will not exceed 5 years.. In an extremely serious condition of the patient, maintenance therapy will delay the death by 3-5 months.

Classification of the disease, its symptoms

In medical practice, local and diffuse pneumofibrosis occurs. A disease of a local type is characterized by compaction of a separate fragment of the lung. There are no obvious violations of gas exchange processes. Diffuse pneumofibrosis of the lungs leads to the fact that they lose their original structure and shape, their density increases, and ventilation is disturbed.

According to medical sources, pneumofibrosis is divided into radical and linear. The linear form of the disease is a consequence of past tuberculosis or infections.

Science does not know where hilar pneumofibrosis comes from. It makes itself felt after the patient has had bronchitis or pneumonia. Pneumofibrosis rarely occurs as an independent disease. Its appearance is preceded by a number of provoking factors, which include:

Depending on how long the patient goes to the doctor, he is diagnosed with a progressive or non-progressive stage of pneumofibrosis. The non-progressive form of the disease is characterized by the absence of severe symptoms.

In this case, treatment of pneumofibrosis with folk remedies is allowed. The progressive form is dangerous with complications. Relapses of the disease can disturb a person throughout life. It should be remembered that a disease such as pneumofibrosis is more typical for men.

Why is pneumofibrosis dangerous? Pneumofibrosis is an insidious disease. The growth of tissue leads to a decrease in the lungs and the appearance of respiratory failure. The pressure in the pulmonary artery increases. This process cannot be stopped or corrected. Death occurs as a result of complications.

Signs of pulmonary fibrosis appear if the connective tissue has grown in both lungs. The first and main symptom of the disease is shortness of breath. At the first stage, it worries a person after physical exertion, later, when he is at rest.

Other symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis include:

• • cough accompanied by sputum and pus;
  • the skin becomes bluish;
  • pain in the chest, aggravated by coughing;
  • prostration;
  • body temperature is unstable;
  • sudden weight loss;
  • swelling of the neck veins;
  • wheezing and squeaking in the lungs, especially on expiration.

At the same time, concomitant signs of the disease that provoked pneumofibrosis appear in the picture of the disease.

Many patients diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis fear that it is cancer. Despite the similarity of the clinical picture, pneumofibrosis does not apply to oncological diseases.

Treatment methods for pneumofibrosis

Pneumofibrosis requires timely complex treatment. It is impossible to get rid of it completely, but it is possible to reduce the likelihood of relapses with adequate and timely treatment.

The specialist is able to determine how to treat pneumofibrosis by determining the causes of its occurrence. If focal pneumofibrosis appeared due to inflammation, the patient is prescribed antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. An additional method are procedures aimed at better sputum discharge.

The operation is indicated when there are aggressive external causes of pneumofibrosis. An additional measure is the therapy of respiratory failure.

Preventive measures are aimed at eliminating and reducing provoking factors. If a person's profession is associated with toxic fumes, it is necessary to use respiratory protection. In addition, the work area must be ventilated.

As additional methods of prevention, doctors recommend hardening, increasing physical activity, doing therapeutic breathing exercises, and quitting smoking.

With the development of pneumofibrosis, the volume of the lungs decreases, respiratory failure appears. The lungs shrink, along with it the structure of the bronchi is disturbed. The prognosis is determined by the severity of the course of the disease. If pulmonary fibrosis is diagnosed at a late stage, the prognosis is poor.

Folk methods

Treatment with folk remedies involves the use of decoctions of medicinal herbs, infusions and compresses.

It is not rational to treat pneumofibrosis exclusively with folk remedies. First of all, you should use the methods of official medicine.

Many medicinal plants can cause allergies. Before starting therapy, you need to familiarize yourself with possible contraindications. Treatment of pneumofibrosis and smoking are incompatible.

Breathing exercises in the fight against pneumofibrosis

Breathing exercises are the most accessible means of treating the lungs. Therapeutic gymnastics improves gas exchange, facilitating the patient's condition. Dynamic exercises and diaphragmatic breathing help to improve the mechanical properties of the lungs.

A classic example of an exercise is exhaling with resistance. To do this, you need a glass and a straw. Having collected full lungs of air, you need to slowly exhale air through the straw. The duration of the exercise is 10-15 minutes, the number of repetitions is 4-5. It can be repeated several times a day.

With adequate treatment, it is possible to stop the pathological process. Over time, breathing will return to normal, characteristic signs will disappear, and the risk of other diseases will decrease. A person must maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat a balanced diet and systematically control the process of growth of lung tissue.

Pneumofibrosis is the proliferation of connective tissue in the lungs, which occurs under the influence of a dystrophic or inflammatory process. Pneumofibrosis of the lungs leads to a violation of their elasticity and insufficiency of gas exchange functions of the affected areas.

Types and causes of pneumofibrosis

According to the prevalence, the disease is divided into diffuse pneumofibrosis and local (limited).

Pulmonary fibrosis local is a dense area of ​​lung tissue. At the same time, the volume of the affected lung is reduced. With diffuse pneumofibrosis, the lungs are reduced in volume, dense. The normal structure of the lungs is lost.

Limited pneumofibrosis does not affect the mechanical properties of the lungs and their gas exchange functions too much. But with diffuse disease, normal ventilation of the lungs is significantly reduced.

As a rule, pneumofibrosis is a consequence of various lung diseases, namely:

• chronic obstructive diseases;
• invasive and infectious diseases (pneumonia, including those that have arisen after syphilis, tuberculosis, mycoses, etc.);
• diseases arising from exposure to the body of gases of industrial origin and aggressive dust, inhalation of various toxic substances;
• hereditary lung diseases.

Often, pulmonary fibrosis is a consequence of exposure to toxic drugs or ionizing radiation.

Symptoms of pneumofibrosis

Localized pneumofibrosis may be asymptomatic.

The main symptom of diffuse pneumofibrosis is shortness of breath, which tends to progress over time. Often shortness of breath is accompanied by a strong dry cough, aggravated by intense breathing. Other symptoms of pneumofibrosis include general weakness of the body, aching pain in the sternum, weight loss, and a constant feeling of fatigue. If the patient's basal parts of the lungs are affected, then this leads to the formation of the so-called Hippocratic fingers.

In the later stages of the disease, patients experience the so-called squeaking in the lungs, similar in sound to rubbing a cork. This becomes especially noticeable on inspiration and over the area of ​​​​the anterior surface of the chest.

Diagnosis of pneumofibrosis

The main method of diagnosing this disease is an X-ray examination of the lungs. Only this study allows you to get the most objective idea of ​​changes in the lung tissue of a sclerotic nature and differentiate the diagnosis of pneumofibrosis from tumor lesions of the lungs.

To determine pneumofibrosis, the patient is prescribed an x-ray of the chest organs. Complementary investigations may include tomography and radiography. Of great importance in recent years in determining the state of the lung tissue is acquiring computed tomography.

Treatment of pneumofibrosis

To date, there are no effective methods for the treatment of pneumofibrosis. With local pneumofibrosis without symptoms, as a rule, no therapeutic effect is applied at all. If local pneumofibrosis develops as a result of past destructive-inflammatory diseases and proceeds with periodic outbreaks of the infectious process, the patient is prescribed anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drugs, as well as measures aimed at improving bronchial drainage.

Bronchological examination allows you to determine whether surgical intervention is advisable for the disease.

If the disease is extensive and caused by external factors, then the treatment of pneumofibrosis should first of all be aimed at eliminating the causes. If necessary, respiratory failure is also treated.

The prognosis of pneumofibrosis depends on various factors, including the complexity of the course of the disease. A decrease in lung size significantly aggravates respiratory failure, in some cases it can cause increased pressure in the pulmonary artery system and the development of cor pulmonale. A lethal outcome is possible if pneumofibrosis is complicated by a secondary infection or the development of tuberculosis.

Prevention of pneumofibrosis

The main method of prevention of pneumofibrosis is the timely detection and adequate treatment of those diseases that contribute to its development. When working with pneumotoxic substances, it is necessary to strictly adhere to safety rules, to carry out regular monitoring aimed at identifying the pneumotoxic effect of various drugs. If any pathological changes are observed in the lungs, it is urgent to take measures aimed at eliminating them.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Pulmonary fibrosis is a severe pathology of the respiratory organs, in which fibrous tissue forms in the lungs, interfering with the normal functioning of the organs. With the appearance of fibrous cords, the main characteristics of the lung tissue change significantly. It becomes less extensible, loses its elasticity. As a result, the function of filling the lungs with oxygen is impaired, due to which patients suffer from pulmonary insufficiency. Since the pathology is quite specific, it is important to know how to treat pulmonary fibrosis and whether there are prospects for the treatment of this disease.

The disease can occur in both acute and chronic stages. Acute pulmonary fibrosis occurs extremely rarely, mainly the disease occurs gradually and progresses for a long time, leading to respiratory failure. If such a complication is diagnosed in a patient, then the progression of the pathology in the future is rapid - in just a couple of months, patients are overtaken by a fatal outcome. Is it possible to cure patients from such a serious disease?

The danger of pulmonary fibrosis lies not only in the presence of the pathology itself, but also in the complications that the pulmonary disease causes. Severe consequences of fibrosis for patients are pleurisy, pneumothorax, chronic pulmonary heart and other diseases. Leading causes of death are respiratory and heart failure, thromboembolism, pneumonia and cancer.

Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis is extremely difficult due to the fact that it is almost impossible to stop the progression of the appearance of fibrous tissue in the organ. Among the help to patients with pulmonary fibrosis are:

• drug therapy;
• surgical method of treatment - lung transplantation;
• rehabilitation non-drug measures.

The main goal of all types of care is to provide the patient with an improvement in the quality of life and prevent further aggravation of the respiratory system.

Rehabilitation methods

Rehabilitation techniques are extremely important for patients because they minimize the manifestation of symptoms:

• relieve shortness of breath;
• improve the ability of patients to perform minimal physical activity, which becomes impossible with the development of respiratory failure.

As a preventive measure, doctors insist on the annual vaccination of such patients against influenza, since patients are extremely difficult to tolerate colds and then suffer from complications. Every five years, for the same purpose, patients are vaccinated against pneumococcus. In especially severe cases, plasmapheresis and hemosorption are performed.

Taking into account the individual capabilities of the patient and in order to prevent pneumosclerosis, physical training is carried out to activate, as far as possible, the work of the lungs and improve tissue oxygen saturation.

Medical treatment of the disease

The main categories of drugs that are preferred to treat pulmonary fibrosis are a group of cytostatics, glucocorticoids and antifibrotic agents. The most popular among glucocorticoids is Prednisolone. If the patient tolerates this medicine well, then it is prescribed for long courses up to three months. If therapy with Prednisolone is ineffective, cytostatic drugs are added to the treatment regimen and therapy is extended for another six months.

With the use of anti-fibrotic drugs, it is possible to stop the progression of the disease for a while.

Despite the fact that there are drugs that act against fibrosis of the lung tissue, the side effects of such drugs are very high. For example, glucocorticoid therapy leads to osteoporosis, myopathies, increased blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and the appearance of mental disorders. Cytostatic drugs, in turn, disrupt the functioning of the gonads, promote baldness, inhibit hematopoiesis, reduce the protective properties of the body and can provoke gastrointestinal pathologies.

Azathioprine has much less side effects. This is a drug from the group of immunosuppressants that blocks cell division and the degeneration of tissues into fibrous ones. The drug is well absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract, the maximum in the blood is reached 1-2 hours after ingestion. All patients can take the drug, except for pregnant women. If problems with the liver and kidneys occur, the drug is taken by dividing the dose by four times.

Also, as an antifibrotic agent, doctors prescribe patients Colchicine, which inhibits the production of fibronectin. A certain positive effect was also observed when Veroshpiron was used in patients, which prevents the formation of fibrous tissue not only in the lungs, but also in the liver and heart tissue.

Surgical treatment of pathology

If conservative treatment fails, doctors consider lung transplantation. There are clear indications for this:

• the development of hypoxia if a person experiences physical stress;
• a significant decrease in the vital capacity of the lungs;
• a decrease in the diffuse capacity of the organ by half;
• development of severe respiratory failure.

Sometimes a lung transplant is the only way to prolong the life of a patient with fibrosis. More than half of transplant patients have extended their lives by an average of five years. Every three months, such patients need to consult a general practitioner and a pulmonologist.

For many patients, it is lung transplantation that becomes the “lifeline”

For many patients, a lung transplant is the only way to cure fibrosis. Transplantation is carried out for those patients whose life expectancy, according to forecasts, will not exceed two years. The donor is chosen from healthy people, his age should not be more than 55 years. If a single lung transplant is performed, then the age of the donor is up to 65 years. The donor should not smoke, he should have a normal radiograph, no aspiration discharge in the bronchi.

It is very important that the lungs of the donor match the lungs of the recipient.

Before transplantation, a visual control and a test for tissue compatibility are carried out. An interesting fact is that only every fourth lung is suitable for transplantation. Before the lung is taken, a special solution is injected into the donor and the pulmonary artery is washed, and then the lung is removed and filled with 100% oxygen. In this form, it is transported to the recipient, the temperature should be from 0 to -1 degrees.

The operation is performed using a thoracotomy. After removal of the affected lung, the bronchus is sutured, and then an anastomosis of the vessels is created. During the operation, the donor's lungs are under a gauze napkin, in which ice crumbs are wrapped. Once the operation is done, the recipient is scheduled for intensive care:

• prescribe significant doses of antibacterial agents to prevent infections;
• physiotherapy treatment;
• perform bronchoscopy.

Usually, in case of an unfavorable operation, rejection can begin from 3 to 5 days, almost all recipients whose lungs were rejected survived this process within the first month. If this does not happen, the operation can be considered successful.

Treatment with folk remedies

It is possible to alleviate the symptoms of the disease with folk remedies. For this purpose, you can use various infusions and decoctions of medicinal herbs. As an example, we give several recipes for the treatment of pneumofibrosis.

To prepare the medicine, you will need to take rose hips and elecampane root in equal parts, grind the components and pour one glass of water in a saucepan with water at the rate of one tablespoon of the dry component. This remedy must be brought to a boil and boiled over low heat for 15 minutes, then placed in a thermos for three hours to infuse.

Rosehip broth with elecampane should be drunk in half a glass for two months before meals. It is very important not to interrupt the treatment, to have a ready remedy on hand in order to always drink the medicine. Elecampane in combination with wild rose helps to remove phlegm from the lungs, restores tissues and protects the lungs from inflammation.

Rosehip and elecampane will help to cope with the symptoms of the disease, but will not eliminate its cause.

Another recipe for treating fibrosis is the use of aniseed. To prepare the product, you will need one tablespoon of anise seeds, which is poured into a glass of water, brought to a boil and immediately removed from the stove. The broth should be allowed to cool, after which it is recommended to drink half a glass of liquid.

Rosemary also showed itself in the fight against pulmonary fibrosis. It not only cleanses the body of toxins and toxins, but also improves blood circulation in the lungs and bronchi and helps restore lung tissue. Sprigs of finely chopped rosemary must be mixed in equal proportions with water and simmer for a couple of hours in the oven.

As soon as the time has passed, the oven is turned off, the rosemary is cooled and exactly the same volume of liquid honey is added. The product is well mixed and put in the refrigerator. Use the medicine once a day in the morning.

It will help to cope with the symptoms of pathology and flaxseed. Cough and shortness of breath annoy patients with pneumofibrosis, so to eliminate these signs of the disease, you need to prepare an infusion of flaxseed - add a glass of boiling water to a tablespoon of the seed and keep it covered for twenty minutes. Every evening you need to drink one glass of the remedy.

Herbal infusion will help eliminate the manifestations of pneumofibrosis and alleviate the health of patients. For its preparation, it is recommended to take mistletoe, elecampane, hawthorn, cyanosis roots, ephedra and mix everything thoroughly. Then the agent is poured with a glass of boiling water (per 1 tablespoon) and infused for half an hour. You can boil the contents for five minutes on fire. Take half a glass twice a day.

When treating pulmonary fibrosis, it must be remembered that complete recovery cannot be achieved. Patients receive only symptomatic therapy, which alleviates the course of the disease, but the disease can be completely cured only by a radical method.

I have pneumofibrosis. How can it be treated in Russia? One of its manifestations is my asthma. I read that injections of the drug LONGIDAZA contribute to the softening of the connective tissue in the area of ​​​​the blood flow of the liver, since when the connective tissue becomes inflamed, it coarsens and it limits the blood flow to the liver, which purifies the blood. I spoke with one therapist and he wanted to send me to the district, they say, they will treat you with hormonal drugs. I don't like hormonal drugs. Maybe there is something else? Like the drug LONGIDAZA and oxygen therapy, for example. I have to work, and when I lift weights, I get muscle spasm and an asthma attack begins with a decent time to normalize breathing. I wrote to doctors in Israel - they seem to be cured there, but they still need money. What do you advise?

Yuriy, Lugansk

Hello! Pulmonary emphysema, pneumofibrosis, chronic bronchitis with an asthmatic component (or obstructive chronic bronchitis), and speaking in modern "medical" language - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - this is a pathological condition of the lung tissue when more air accumulates in it than it is should be. With emphysema, bronchial expiratory resistance increases. Pulmonary emphysema, chronic obstructive bronchitis, as a rule, is accompanied by pneumosclerosis.

• Mix viburnum broth with honey (if there is no allergy to honey!) - to thin sputum and alleviate cough. Take 1 tablespoon 3 times a day. The course is 2.5-3 months. A break of 2 months and again a course of 2.5-3 months.
• Decoction of turnip garden. Grind the root crop and cook over low heat for 10 minutes. Drink 100 ml 3 times a day.
• Turnip juice with honey. Drink 1 dessert spoon 3-4 times a day.
• Mumiyo (pharmaceutical preparation) 1 capsule or tablet (0.2 g) in the morning, on an empty stomach, drink 2-3 sips of warm milk or grape juice. Course 20 days. Break - 1 month and again the course - 20 days. Yes, six months.
• . Pour 1 cup of washed oats with 1 liter of distilled water at room temperature; insist 10 hours. Put on low heat, boil for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, wrap and let it brew for 12 hours. Strain. Top up to the original volume, i.e. up to 1 liter with distilled water. Take 100 ml 3 times a day, before meals. The course is 1.5 months. Break 1 month and repeat the course - 1.5 months. So for 1.5 years.
• To reduce the viscosity of mucus, a mixture of horseradish and lemon juice is a good remedy. Grate horseradish, take 100-150 g in a bottle. Add the juice of 2 lemons to it - you get a thick sauce. Insist 1 day. Take 1 teaspoon in the morning and afternoon daily. Do not drink water or tea. In the first days of taking the medicine, it will cause watery eyes, but in the following days you will “cry” less and less. According to the healers, "The more tears, the less mucus left in the bronchi." Horseradish should be fresh, no more than a week old. The medicine (sauce) can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month.
• Iris. A decoction of dried and crushed iris roots acts as a blood-purifying, expectorant, sputum-thinning agent. With pneumosclerosis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, with bronchiectasis, with obstructive bronchitis, take a decoction of 1 dessert spoon every two to three hours. Preparation 1 tablespoon of crushed iris roots is boiled in 300 ml of water for 7-10 minutes. Leave for 1 hour. Strain. Add honey to taste.
• Common thyme. It is used as an expectorant and disinfectant for chronic (and obstructive) bronchitis, pneumosclerosis, bronchiectasis, bronchial asthma, pneumonia. It helps to relieve cough with whooping cough and tracheitis. Pour 2 tablespoons of herbs into 300 ml of water and boil in a water bath for 15-20 minutes. Cool, strain. Take 50 g 4-5 times a day.
• Every day for 3 months, drink tea from the herb Origanum vulgaris. Course 3 months; a break of 1 month and again a course of 3 months.
• Coltsfoot. Infusion of leaves is used for pneumosclerosis, bronchial asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, laryngitis. Brew 4 teaspoons of crushed leaves with a glass of boiling water, leave for 1 hour, strain. Drink 80 ml 3-4 times a day.

You should draw up a treatment plan for yourself, with alternating courses of treatment with drugs (2-3 drugs each), so that during breaks in taking some drugs, start treatment with others. You just need to show patience and perseverance, not giving up treatment halfway through.

And my advice to you ... In no case do not take this as an advertisement. Moscow has Doctor Buteyko Center. This wonderful specialist just specializes in lung diseases. I strongly advise you to call there and talk to the doctor of the Center. Phones (495) - 101-41-77 (Buteyko clinic); 304 - 18 - 89 and (495) - 176 - 00 - 63. Be sure to call and tell us about what is happening to you. It may turn out that in this Center or in its branches you will be helped to recover.

Health to you, health!

/ 09.03.2018

Local pneumofibrosis of the lungs treatment with folk remedies. Diffuse pneumofibrosis - symptoms and treatment.

Pneumofibrosis of the lungs was diagnosed - what kind of disease is this? This is the name given to the replacement of lung tissue with connective tissue. Pathology develops due to inflammatory or dystrophic processes. As a result, the structure of the affected areas is disturbed, and this leads to a deterioration in the main gas exchange function of the lungs.

Pneumofibrosis can only be called an independent disease in part. Most often, this is a consequence of pathological changes occurring in the respiratory system. One of the most common reasons for the displacement of lung connective tissue is oxygen starvation of the respiratory organ. It occurs due to deterioration of lung ventilation, drainage of the bronchial tree, lymph and blood circulation.

Pneumofibrosis is included in the subgroup of pneumosclerotic anomalies. These also include pneumosclerosis and cirrhosis of the lungs. All three pathologies are very similar. They differ from each other in that with sclerosis and cirrhosis, the connective tissue grows more rapidly than with pneumofibrosis.

There are two main variants of this disease:

• local (that is, limited, focal) pneumofibrosis;
• diffuse (extensive) pneumofibrosis.

With a local variant of the disease, the pathological process develops in one focus, rarely spreading beyond its borders. Although the volume of the lung decreases somewhat, however, its gas exchange function is not disturbed. Diffuse pneumofibrosis covers large areas of the lungs. At the same time, their structure changes more radically. Becoming dense, they significantly decrease in volume, and such a change significantly impairs ventilation of the lungs.

Local pneumofibrosis often does not manifest itself in any way, and it does not even occur to a person that he is sick. Therefore, this variant of the disease is usually detected by chance, during examination for a completely different reason. Another thing is diffuse pneumofibrosis. Its main symptoms are:

• shortness of breath that gets worse over time
• bouts of dry cough, aggravated by rapid breathing;
• the appearance of a whistle on the breaths;
• aching pain in the chest;
• blueing of the skin;
• noticeable weight loss;
• general malaise, weakness, fatigue.

If the basal sections are affected in the lungs of a person, this pathology is given out by the "fingers of Hippocrates", because of the thickened tips they become like drumsticks. The late stage of the development of the disease is evidenced by such a symptom as squeaking on inspiration, reminiscent of the sound that a cork makes when it is rubbed against glass. If you find one or more of these symptoms, you should contact your local therapist and be examined. If pneumofibrosis is detected, the doctor will prescribe adequate treatment and give recommendations for improving lifestyle.

Diagnosis and treatment

To identify the type of disease, its extent and localization fully allows chest x-ray. Thanks to this study, the doctor also gets the opportunity to differentiate pneumofibrosis from tumors that develop in the lungs.

To establish whether the patient needs surgical treatment, bronchoscopy allows. In addition, in order to exclude medical errors, the possibilities of computed tomography are increasingly being used in medicine today.

Patients with a local variant of the disease that is asymptomatic usually do not receive treatment. But if the disease is a consequence of the inflammatory diseases they have suffered and is periodically complicated by exacerbations of the infectious process, a course of treatment is necessary. It includes bronchoscopic procedures to improve the drainage of the bronchial tree, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory and antitussive drugs.

If diffuse pneumofibrosis is caused by the negative impact of the external environment, it is first necessary to eliminate its root cause. At the same time, a course of treatment is prescribed, aimed at eliminating or reducing pulmonary insufficiency. Areas of destructive, festering tissues are removed surgically.

Drug therapy includes glucocorticosteroids in combination with Penicillamine, which has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect, potassium, vitamins B6 and E. The course of treatment also includes drugs that enhance tissue regeneration and metabolism, and strengthen blood vessels. In heart failure, cardiac glycosides are prescribed.

The patient's condition is significantly improved by oxygen treatment (oxygen therapy), physiotherapy, massage of the chest area, and physiotherapy exercises. A promising method for the treatment of pneumofibrosis with the help of stem cells, which helps to restore the gas exchange function of the lungs.

In order to prevent this disease, it is important to timely identify and effectively treat diseases that lead to its development.

People who come into contact with chemicals that are toxic to the respiratory system, working in conditions that are harmful to the lungs, must strictly follow the safety regulations.

Experienced pulmonologists know who develops pulmonary fibrosis, what it is and how to treat this pathological condition. Fibrosis is the process of replacing functional lung tissue with connective tissue. This is the cause of impaired respiratory function up to the development of respiratory failure.

The development of pneumofibrosis in adults and children

Pulmonary fibrosis is a chronic disease in which coarse connective tissue grows in the lungs. The lung tissue loses its elasticity, which causes difficulty in the passage of air. Pneumosclerosis and fibrosis are not independent pathologies. Most often this is a consequence of other lung diseases (bronchitis, pneumonia).

Pneumofibrosis is of the following types:

• unilateral and bilateral;
• diffuse and focal;
• infectious and non-infectious origin.

There are 3 types of fibrosis depending on the severity of changes in the interstitial tissue:

• pneumofibrosis;
• cirrhosis;
• sclerosis.

In pneumofibrosis, areas of normal tissue alternate with connective tissue. Depending on the etiological factor, post-radiation, post-pneumonic, dust, focal, infectious and idiopathic pneumofibrosis are distinguished. In the latter case, the exact cause of lung damage has not been established. Diffuse fibrosis is most severe when the organ decreases in volume. This pathology affects mainly adults.

Etiological factors

You need to know not only what pneumofibrosis is, but also why it develops. There are the following reasons for the formation of this pathology:

• hypoxia of lung tissue;
• circulatory disorders;
• difficulty in the outflow of lymph;
• chronic obstructive diseases (bronchitis);
• pneumonia;
• inhalation of dust and gases;
• inhalation of vapors of alkalis, acids and toxic compounds;
• vasculitis;
• tuberculosis;
• syphilis;
• fungal diseases.

The development of pulmonary fibrosis is due to oxygen starvation of the tissue, against which fibroblasts are activated. These are cells that contribute to the production of collagen and the growth of connective tissue. The risk group includes frequently ill people, smokers, people who come into contact with flour, dust, coal, cement, asbestos, metal, wood, talc.

They often develop chronic dust bronchitis. Against the background of inflammatory diseases, sputum stagnates and plugs form. In the absence of therapeutic measures, this leads to fibrosis. Less commonly, diffuse pneumofibrosis develops against the background of exposure to high doses of ionizing radiation or medication (antiarrhythmic and anticancer drugs). Local (radical) fibrosis is most often formed after tuberculosis.

How the disease manifests itself

Symptoms of this pathology are few. The most common clinical signs are:

• shortness of breath at rest or on exertion;
• cough;
• pallor of the skin;
• weight loss;
• weakness;
• malaise;
• fatigue;
• mild chest pain;
• wheezing;
• decrease in performance.

With the progression of pulmonary fibrosis to cirrhosis or sclerosis, symptoms of heart failure, edema, and palpitations may appear. Most often, patients complain of shortness of breath. At first, she worries during exercise (during running, work or brisk walking), and then appears at rest. It is associated with cough. The latter is most often dry. Sometimes there is a separation of viscous sputum.

The appearance of blood streaks in it indicates the development of complications. Basal pneumofibrosis is characterized by the defeat of those parts of the body that are located at the base. The local form proceeds most easily, since only a small area of ​​\u200b\u200btissue suffers from it. This does not interfere with gas exchange.

Linear pneumofibrosis is a consequence of pneumonia and inflammation of the bronchi.

It does not develop immediately, but after several months or even years.

Patient Examination Plan

Before treatment, a thorough diagnosis is carried out to exclude other pathologies (tumors, cancer). The following studies are required:

• radiography of the lungs;
• computed or magnetic resonance imaging;
• electrocardiography;
• Ultrasound of the heart;
• study of the function of external respiration;
• determination of the gas composition of the blood;
• physical examination (listening to the lungs and heart, as well as percussion);
• general clinical tests;
• sputum examination to rule out tuberculosis.

If necessary, bronchoscopy is organized. The attending physician must necessarily identify previously suffered by the patient respiratory diseases, the presence of chronic pathology, living and working conditions (harmful professional factors).

How to heal the sick

When pneumofibrosis is detected, treatment is directed to the underlying cause that caused this condition. There is no specific therapy, since the process of connective tissue proliferation is irreversible. Treatment with folk remedies is auxiliary. Aloe tincture and honey give a good effect. The latter is recommended to rub the back of the patient.

With local fibrotic changes against the background of inflammatory diseases, antibiotics, physiotherapy, and breathing exercises are prescribed. With a productive cough, expectorant drugs and drugs that thin sputum (Lazolvan, ACC, Ambroxol, Ambrobene) help. Treatment of pneumofibrosis involves a change in lifestyle (quitting smoking, switching to work with less harmful working conditions).
This video talks about pulmonary fibrosis:

Avoid contact with dust, gases and other harmful substances. In severe respiratory failure, oxygen therapy may be required. Physical activity is limited. All patients should avoid stress, eat well and take additional vitamins. If changes in the lung tissue are detected by chance, and there are no symptoms, then treatment with folk remedies and other therapies may not be applied.

These patients are monitored. With the progression of fibrosis, total lung damage and the development of complications, surgical intervention may be required. Untimely diagnosis and treatment can cause the development of complications (cor pulmonale, sclerosis, secondary pneumonia, arterial hypertension, respiratory failure).

Prevention of pneumofibrosis consists in quitting smoking, avoiding contact with chemicals, using personal protective equipment (masks, respirators) while working in production, timely treatment of bronchitis and pneumonia. Thus, pneumofibrosis is not treatable. You can only stop this process and alleviate the condition of patients.

You have disabled java script in your browser, you need to enable it or you will not be able to get all the information on the article "Pneumofibrosis and manifestation symptoms".

Causes of the disease

As a rule, an ailment can occur not only against the background of poor environmental conditions, but also as a result of other infectious or chronic pathologies. Also, pneumofibrosis can develop against the background of frequent use of drugs and radiation. The main causes of the formation of pathology are as follows:

• the consequences of tuberculosis,;
• chest trauma;
• pathologies caused by fungal diseases;
• stagnation of blood in the pulmonary vessels.

Do not forget about smoking. The systematic ingestion of toxic substances into the lungs leads to the fact that the lung tissue is replaced by connective tissue. Treatment with folk methods will not help here. You can only stop the process and partially remove the pain. Violation of ventilation of the lungs and drainage of the bronchi can also cause the development of the disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms of pneumofibrosis depend on the stage and subtype of the disease. However, there are common factors that indicate pneumofibrosis:

• shortness of breath, which increases as the disease develops;
• strong dry cough;
• cyanotic color of the skin;
• weakness, weight loss;
• changes in body temperature;
• soft tissue hypertrophy.

In a more severe form, swelling of the jugular veins may occur.

It is worth noting that the presence of such symptoms does not mean that it is pneumofibrosis. To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to undergo a series of instrumental and laboratory studies. Take into account the fact that the focal form does not manifest itself in any way, which complicates the diagnostic process.

Diagnostics

The first step is to do an x-ray. This will help confirm or refute the diagnosis. If the assumption is confirmed, then it is possible to diagnose the stage and form of the disease. In addition to x-rays, the following clinical studies are carried out:

• bronchological examination;
• assessment of the function of external respiration;
• general laboratory tests.

Thus, it is possible to detect not only pneumofibrosis, but also associated pathological abnormalities, as well as the causes of its formation.

Treatment

In the process of treatment, the main thing is to eliminate the cause of the disease with medications or to take the right measures for maintenance therapy. If pneumofibrosis arose against the background of another ailment, then a course of treatment is initially prescribed to eliminate the primary pathology. There is no single approach in this case. The doctor prescribes a course of treatment only after a complete diagnosis. Treatment with folk remedies does not make it possible to completely get rid of the disease. As a rule, only the symptoms disappear.

If the cause of the disease is pneumonia, then antibacterial agents are initially prescribed. In some cases, drug treatment and physiotherapy exercises are used. Treatment of pneumofibrosis should be carried out until the patient has fully recovered. Otherwise, a relapse of the disease in a more complex form is possible. After treatment, the patient must be under the supervision of a pulmonologist for at least 1 year.

In the event that the disease has not passed into an acute pathological form, inpatient treatment is not necessary. However, strict bed rest is prescribed at home, which helps sputum to go much faster.

It should be noted that no method of treating pathology will give a 100% result that pneumofibrosis will completely recede and complications will not arise. The fact is that the cells that produce connective tissue do not disappear, so the disease can develop at any time.

Treatment with folk methods

Self-medication is not worth it. However, with the appropriate recommendations of the doctor, drug treatment can be supplemented with folk recipes. Such funds include:

• herbal decoctions;
• lotions;
• warming up;
• compresses, which contribute to a faster release of sputum.

Treatment with such means will undoubtedly bring more positive results. However, only if used in accordance with the strict prescription of a doctor. Any treatment, even folk methods, begins with the fact that you need to accurately diagnose the primary disease. For example, if this is caused by smoking, then it makes no sense to start drinking decoctions according to folk recipes, if you continue to smoke in the same volumes.

Alternative methods of treatment also include an increase (to the extent possible) of physical activity and activity. Getting rid of the disease with folk remedies involves the use of special breathing exercises. If manipulations are carried out regularly, then gas exchange in the lungs and respiratory function are significantly improved.

Nevertheless, it is worth noting that even treatment with folk remedies does not guarantee that the disease will recede once and for all. An important role in the effectiveness of treatment by any means is played by the cause of the onset of connective tissue production. The main task of therapy is to eliminate the cause and symptoms of the disease.

Prevention

In order not to have to drink bitter decoctions according to folk recipes, it is worth making every effort to prevent the disease. For preventive purposes, you can use the following:

• completely stop smoking;
• play sports, increase physical activity;
• use respirators and observe safety precautions (if necessary for the type of activity);
• practice breathing exercises;
• at the initial symptoms, immediately consult a doctor.

In any case, with the above clinical picture, you should not drink any pills that will be given in a pharmacy or start looking for a problem on the Internet. See a pulmonologist.

If you think that you also have symptoms characteristic of this disease, then a pulmonologist can help you.

Heart defects are anomalies and deformations of individual functional parts of the heart: valves, septa, openings between vessels and chambers. Due to their improper functioning, blood circulation is disturbed, and the heart ceases to fully fulfill its main function - supplying oxygen to all organs and tissues.

Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease that involves the presence of scar tissue in the area of ​​​​the lungs, which disrupts the function of breathing. Fibrosis reduces tissue elasticity, making it more difficult for oxygen to pass through the alveoli (vesicles where air comes into contact with blood). This disease involves the replacement of normal lung tissue with connective tissue. The reverse process of regeneration of the connective tissue back into the lung is not possible, therefore, the patient will not be able to recover completely, however, it is still possible to improve the patient's quality of life.

Connective tissue grows. This situation develops against the background of inflammation and can lead to a violation of the structure of the lungs, which reduces their ventilating function. The progression of this disease can lead to deformation of the bronchi, loss of the shape of the lungs (shrinkage), which reduces the volume of organs. Local and diffuse pulmonary fibrosis pose a particular threat to human life. Therefore, it is extremely important to know where such an ailment comes from, its symptoms and methods of treatment.

Usually, pneumofibrosis is a secondary disease that develops against the background of such factors:

• obstructive pathologies of a chronic nature
• invasive or
• due to the regular negative impact of industrial, chemical poisonous gases and substances, radiation
• taking toxic drugs
• with mechanical damage to the lung
• due to smoking

Also, one of the reasons for the development of diffuse pulmonary fibrosis may be a genetic predisposition.

Disease classification

In medicine, two pneumofibrosis are distinguished - local and diffuse. This classification is due to the degree of prevalence of the lesion. Let's look at each form in more detail:

• Focal (local) type. In the lung, there is a seal that occurs in the affected area. It is in this part that the lung begins to lose its volumes, but the functions themselves are not violated.
• diffuse type. Here, the entire surface of the right or left (or both) lobes of the organ is compacted, due to which the respiratory and ventilation functions are disturbed. Soft tissues become denser, which leads to a loss of elasticity and volume. This situation ends with problems with ventilation and breathing.

There is another medical division of the disease - progressive and non-progressive pneumofibrosis. In the first case, from time to time the disease "activates", which is why the patient's symptoms worsen. This form often ends with complications, and this also applies to abscesses. If you follow all the instructions of the attending physician and lead a healthy lifestyle, then the disease stops.

Pneumofibrosis of the lungs is an incurable disease that requires constant monitoring, both on the part of the person himself and on the part of the pulmonologist.

Symptoms of diffuse pneumofibrosis

If there is a local type of disease, then it practically does not manifest itself. And this has its own danger, because it can be detected on a random x-ray or fluorography. This means a high rate of complications. While the symptoms of diffuse pulmonary fibrosis are expressed as follows:

• shortness of breath that will worsen over time
• a dry cough appears, and the more a person tries to breathe, the more intense the attack
• there is a constant feeling of weakness, apathy
• if there is a lesion of the basal areas, then the nail phalanges of the fingers will gradually thicken
• when the disease is advanced, during breathing, the patient experiences an uncomfortable sensation in the right side of the ribs,
• cork-like friction
• temperature may rise
• in the chest there are pain sensations that "roll in waves"
• in the absence of adequate measures, dry turns into wet, and bloody inclusions will begin to be observed

Depending on which part of the lung the lesion develops, the symptoms may vary somewhat. The pulmonologist is engaged in making an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnosis and treatment of pneumofibrosis

If the doctor comes to the conclusion that the symptoms are really similar to the symptoms of pneumofibrosis, then the patient is sent for examination. It includes several things:

• X-ray of the lungs and nearby organs
• computed tomography of the lungs
• general analyzes
• bronchography
• angiopulmonography
• biopsy study

The first two diagnostics will determine the location of the lesion, give an idea of ​​the size of the lung and its deformation (if any), whether there are changes in the bronchi and vascular system. The last study is designed to determine the violation of the ventilation-perfusion relationship.

After the full picture is visible, treatment of diffuse pneumofibrosis begins. The therapy has the following goals:

• alleviate the patient's condition
• stop the progression of the disease
• eliminate the influence of negative factors
• prevent suffocation

If there is an acute course of the disease, then the pulmonologist prescribes inpatient treatment. To stop inflammatory processes, the patient is prescribed:

• expectorants
• mucolytics

For heart problems, it may be necessary to take potassium medications and glycosides for the heart.

When allergy contributed to pneumofibrosis, then glucocorticoids are indispensable. In the case of the onset of suppuration and destruction of the organ, they resort to surgery. Such measures allow resection of the affected area.

Physiotherapy is also used to treat this disease. It includes:

• therapeutic physical education
• chest massage course
• hiking

As for the last point, the fact is that proper nutrition allows you to accelerate repair in the lung, as well as reduce the loss of protein that comes out with sputum. Therefore, the patient's diet includes foods with vitamin A and B9, as well as calcium, copper, and potassium salts as much as possible.

Thanks to the development of modern medicine, stem cells have recently begun to be actively used. Such activities allow you to restore gas exchange and the structure of the lungs. If you bring your condition to an extreme point, you may need a lung transplant.

As for the prognosis, the main role is played by the primary disease and whether it has a complication. A decrease in the volume of the organ leads to respiratory failure, which means that the load on the pulmonary artery increases. In parallel, an infection or tuberculous process develops, which leads to death.

The destruction of the pulmonary structure passes quickly enough, because of which the bronchi may soon be involved. Therefore, it is important to start treatment on time. The sooner a problem is noticed, the easier it is to fix it.

Noticed an error? Select it and click Ctrl+Enter to let us know.

Aug 4, 2016 Violetta Lekar

Pulmonary pneumofibrosis is a type of interstitial lung disease that leads to limited ventilation functions of this organ and impaired gas exchange. This disease appears when fibrous tissue begins to grow in normal lung tissue. The process is irreversible, and drug treatment of pulmonary fibrosis is mainly aimed only at maintaining the body's respiratory system and preserving healthy tissues.

Using numerous folk remedies, the patient can stop the further growth of fibrous tissue and significantly improve the function of the healthy part of the lungs. In this case, a person’s breathing normalizes, unpleasant symptoms disappear, and the risk of concomitant diseases is significantly reduced. If you add to this a healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition, your condition will return to normal, and you will again be able to breathe deeply.