What is pulmonary fibrosis: methods of treatment. Local pneumofibrosis of the lungs treatment with folk remedies. Diffuse pulmonary fibrosis - symptoms and treatment Diffuse pulmonary fibrosis treatment with folk remedies

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 patient's quality of life 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 many 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 often ill, whose professional activity is associated with the risk of 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 a lung disease in which there is an overgrowth of connective tissue.

This pathology disrupts the structure of organs, reduces their ventilating function, leads to a decrease in lung volume, and also causes deformation of the bronchi. Complications or the presence of infection in the body can lead to death.

The code

The ICD 10 code is included in section J80-J84.

The reasons

The development of the disease is facilitated by certain conditions that lead to disruption of the pulmonary system. Therefore, the causes of the disease are very diverse.

Pneumofibrosis can provoke:

All these factors cause pneumofibrotic changes in the lungs.

Symptoms

Many patients do not suspect that they have the disease, because they do not know its symptoms. Therefore, it is important to know what consequences can be in advanced stages of pneumofibrosis, and why it is dangerous. The patient has a proliferation of connective tissue and respiratory failure occurs.

It is important to contact a pulmonologist in a timely manner, since in the later stages of the disease it is quite difficult to correct or stop this process. Complications can lead to death . Therefore, the patient must understand whether it is dangerous to neglect even minor symptoms and how to understand that medical attention is needed.

The main symptom is shortness of breath. At the initial stage, it appears only after physical exertion. Over time, shortness of breath is observed even at rest.

Other symptoms of the disease include:

• Cough with sputum and pus;
• During coughing in the chest, pain;
• bluish skin tone;
• There is increased fatigue;
• During the day, body temperature can fluctuate;
• On exhalation, wheezing is heard;
• A sharp drop in body weight;
• Neck veins swell during coughing.

Classification

The disease is characterized by alternation of normal areas of lung tissue with connective tissue.

In this regard, the disease is divided into types:

Post-radiation fibrosis is dangerous. He needs serious therapy. Therefore, it is important to diagnose the disease in time and immediately begin treatment.

A special group is occupied by hyperpneumatosis. This is a complex pathological disease with a pathogenetic syndrome.

Diagnostics

Before determining how to treat the disease, the pulmonologist conducts a conversation with the patient, directs him to take tests, examines the chest, assessing its shape.

With the help of a phonendoscope, he listens to the work of the lungs to identify noises or wheezing.

Instrumental procedures will allow the doctor to determine whether the patient has pneumosclerosis or pneumoneurosis.

For this, appoint:

• radiography;
• Computed tomography;
• Ventilation scintigraphy;
• Spirometry;
• transbronchial biopsy;
• Bronchoscopy;
• Plethysmography.

The procedures will also allow you to identify whether pleurofibrosis is on the right or left, to determine whether there are sclerotic changes or tumors in the tissues, to determine lung disease and what kind of pneumofibrosis it is.

If the diagnostics showed that the lung fields are pneumatized, then it is necessary to carry out several procedures and select the appropriate drugs. With the help of diagnostics, pleuropneumofibrosis can be detected.

Diagnostic measures will reveal pneumatosis in a patient, which is characterized by the presence of cysts. To do this, pneumatization is carried out, which will help to decipher the data of the radiograph or tomogram in order to identify the amount of air content in the lung fields.

If one or more cavities with fibrous changes or capsules are found in the patient's lungs, the patient is diagnosed with post-tuberculous fibrosis.

After the diagnosis, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive treatment that will reduce the risk of relapse in the future. It is impossible to completely cure the disease.

Treatment

The task of the doctor is to choose such drugs that will eliminate the cause of the disease. Treatment is carried out until complete recovery, and not only when the symptoms disappear.

1. To restore the patency of the bronchi appoint:

• Bromhexine;
• Salbutomol.

1. To improve microcirculation— Trental.
2. Patients are shown to receive antioxidants.
3. Courses are assigned anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and hormonal drugs.

During treatment it is important:

• Get rid of bad habits;
• Complete a course of oxygen therapy;
• Normalize sleep and rest;
• Do breathing exercises regularly.

In advanced cases, there may be a question of surgical intervention.

ethnoscience

Adequate selection of medications, compliance with preventive measures and the use of alternative methods of treatment will help stop the development of pathological processes. The task of the patient is to strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor.

Video:

Pneumofibrosis is a disease in which lung tissue is replaced by connective tissue. It belongs to the group of pneumosclerotic pathologies. This disease rarely occurs on its own, more often against the background of already existing ailments in the human body. It affects both men and women.

If treatment is not started on time, cirrhosis of the lung may develop. This pathological process provokes deformation of the lungs and, as a result, a decrease in respiratory function.

Kinds

Pneumofibrosis is of the following types:

• diffuse;
• local (focal).

Diffuse pneumofibrosis

Diffuse pneumofibrosis affects both lungs. Moreover, the process is much faster than in the focal form. The lung tissue becomes denser, its volume decreases, and the structure is deformed. Therefore, the respiratory function deteriorates significantly.

Focal pneumofibrosis

Local pneumofibrosis (focal) affects only a certain part of the lung. Part of the lung tissue becomes denser, but this does not particularly affect the respiratory function. Focal pneumofibrosis does not affect the elasticity of the entire lung.

Both types of pathology can occur in two stages - progressive and non-progressive. What stage of the disease the patient will have depends on how quickly he goes to the doctor and starts treatment.

The non-progressive form is characterized by an almost complete absence of a clinical picture. This form is typical for those people who adhere to a healthy lifestyle. It can be treated with folk methods, means according to "grandmother's" recipes.

The progressive form, most often, leads to serious complications and even abscesses. Outbreaks of the disease can accompany the patient throughout life.

In some medical literature, hilar pneumofibrosis and linear fibrosis are also distinguished. The latter form, as a rule, develops against the background of previous or other infectious diseases. Linear pathology can manifest itself only a couple of years after the illness. The causes of hilar pneumofibrosis have not been precisely investigated. But, as practice shows, and can serve as a "catalyst" in an acute form.

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 there is no point in starting to drink 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.

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Diseases with similar symptoms:

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.

With the development of pulmonary fibrosis, respiratory functions are impaired. Even timely treatment will not help to completely get rid of the disease, because fibrosis can only be stopped, including folk remedies. The therapeutic effect of drugs is aimed at improving pulmonary circulation. The disease can also be diagnosed in children, but is more often observed in men, mainly over the age of 60 years.

With pulmonary fibrosis, the tissues of the partitions separating the alveoli of the lungs become denser, their elasticity decreases, as a result of which respiratory functions are impaired. There is difficulty in passing air through the alveoli, which are responsible for oxygenating the blood. In this case, there is an increased production of collagen, a lot of connective tissue fibers are formed, the damaged organ noticeably increases in size. Causes of pulmonary fibrosis:

• inhalation of industrial and toxic gases, small particles of mineral substances, mold, metal, cement and asbestos dust, etc.;
• taking chemotherapeutic, antiarrhythmic drugs, long-term use of antibiotics, chemotherapy, radiotherapy in the chest area;
• some viral and fungal infections;
• connective tissue diseases;
• bruises and injuries in the chest area;
• inflammatory processes in the walls of blood vessels.

Pulmonary fibrosis is often a complication of various diseases. Therefore, treatment methods are primarily aimed at eliminating the causes that provoked its development. If the causes of the disease are not established, idiopathic fibrosis is diagnosed. Allocate focal fibrosis and diffuse. In the first case, the disease is localized in small areas of the lungs. With diffuse pulmonary fibrosis, almost the entire organ is affected. The disease can be either unilateral or bilateral. The severity and course of the disease depends on its causes and the general condition of the body.

Symptoms

With a focal form of fibrosis affecting a small area, there may be no symptoms at all, making it difficult to diagnose the disease. Diffuse fibrosis is accompanied by pronounced symptoms:

• shortness of breath;
• cough;
• increased sweating;
• rapid breathing;
• painful sensations of a aching nature in the chest area;
• wheezing in the lungs;
• violation of the heart rhythm;
• bluish coloration of the mucous membranes of the mouth and fingers;
• thickening of the extreme phalanges of the fingers;
• deformation of the nails;
• weight loss.

At the initial stage of the disease, shortness of breath appears only after physical exertion, and in the future it is present even at rest. The occurrence of fibrosis is accompanied, as the disease develops, sputum is observed. With the disease, there is general weakness, fatigue.

If you pay attention to the symptoms characteristic of fibrosis in a timely manner, you can prevent the occurrence of disorders that cannot be eliminated. Even early treatment will not be able to defeat the disease, fibrosis can be stopped, and the patient's condition can be alleviated.

The course of treatment begins with the cleansing of the respiratory tract from mucus, then measures are needed to restore lung function. To increase the effectiveness of folk remedies, it is necessary to use them in combination with therapeutic exercises, which helps to improve lung gas exchange.

Phytotherapy

Grind the root and, taken in equal amounts, 1 tbsp. l. raw materials pour 300 ml of water, bring to a boil, keep on fire for 15 minutes. Next, pour the broth into a thermos, leave for 3 hours. People with low acidity should take 100 ml of strained medicine 15 minutes before meals, with high acidity - 30 minutes after eating. The duration of treatment is 2 months. The combination of medicinal properties of the components of the decoction improves the excretion of sputum and mucus, protects the lungs from infection.

It has antioxidant properties, helps the lungs clear mucus. It is necessary to grind rosemary branches, pour water in a ratio of 1: 1, simmer in the oven for about 2 hours, cool a little, add the same amount of natural. This medicine should be taken in the morning and at night, 1 tbsp. l. Store in a cool place.

It is recommended to treat pulmonary fibrosis with an herbal infusion: mix equal amounts of spring adonis and cumin. Brew 200 ml of boiling water 1 tbsp. l. herbal mixture, insist, filter. Drink the resulting infusion in 3 doses.

Seeds of anise thigh promote the restoration of lung tissue, alleviate the general condition with fibrosis, and have a bactericidal expectorant effect. It is necessary to pour 250 ml of water 1 tbsp. l. anise seeds, bring to a boil and remove from heat. Strain the slightly cooled broth. Drink warm in the morning and in the evening, 0.5 cups.

To cleanse the respiratory tract, eliminate shortness of breath, it is recommended to take an infusion from. Brew 250 ml of boiling water 1 tbsp. l. flaxseeds, leave for 20 minutes, filter. Drink every evening 250 ml of infusion.

Grind and mix 2 tsp each. elecampane and, 1 tsp each. , hawthorn, blue cyanosis root, 0.5 tsp. conifer two spikelet. Pour 250 ml of water 1 tbsp. l. herbal collection, after boiling, boil for about 7 minutes, insist for an hour. Drink a decoction in 4 divided doses.

In addition to oral medications, pulmonary fibrosis can be treated with. For this purpose, you can use the leaves of cabbage or burdock. They need to be washed well, beaten off until juice appears, put on the chest, covered with polyethylene, fixed. Keep the compress all night.

To prevent violations of metabolic processes, the occurrence of which is possible with pulmonary fibrosis, it is necessary to carry out rehabilitation measures, which include:

Stress is also one of the negative factors that contribute to the progression of the disease, negatively affecting the entire body. Therefore, it is extremely important to avoid stressful situations, limit emotional overload.

These measures, in combination with treatment, are aimed at improving the quality and life expectancy of patients with pulmonary fibrosis, eliminating oxygen starvation, and maintaining the normal functioning of the pulmonary system. With pulmonary fibrosis, the prognosis is unfavorable - over time, the disease leads to disability, disability. Therefore, these recommendations must be followed.

Disease prevention

To prevent the development of pulmonary fibrosis, it is necessary to follow preventive measures:

1. Use personal protective equipment when working in hazardous industries.
2. Timely treat lung diseases.
3. Give up smoking.
4. Avoid staying in smoky places.
5. Try to avoid hypothermia.
6. Undergo periodic examinations when taking medications that can provoke the occurrence of pulmonary fibrosis.

Regular exercise will also help prevent the development of the disease, increase the effectiveness of treatment. Jogging and walking are recommended. During exercise, the blood is enriched with oxygen, which is important in fibrosis, when the lungs cannot supply the body with the necessary amount of oxygen.

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 illness?

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 experienced 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.