Mar 26 2024 8 mins
Why would breathing suddenly start to worsen for people who have pulmonary fibrosis? This can be the sign of worsening fibrosis (scarring of the lungs), but often there are some other factors involved (other medical problems).
You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Z93wEslRRX0
Normally, pulmonary fibrosis can be progressive, and in these cases we expect a slow worsening of breathlessness over time (months to years). In some cases, the progression can be fairly quick. Sometimes, there may be flare-ups of the fibrosis (exacerbations) which can be extremely severe (but fortunately are quite rare). Most often, when the breathing gets worse over days-weeks-months, there may be another medical problem that has appeared or worsened. If it's over a few days, most commonly there may be a chest infection (acute bronchitis or pneumonia) that could require antibiotic treatment. If it happens over weeks to months, there may be worsening in the lung inflammation associated with the pulmonary fibrosis (if there is an inflammatory ILD present), or there may be a new heart condition developing (such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, heart valve problems etc. Sometimes, there may be anemia present.
A lot of other causes of breathlessness may be present, and sometimes there could be overlapping factors. Having regular follow-up with your doctor is essential especially if you are suffering from progressive pulmonary fibrosis. It is very important to look for and treat any other potential conditions which exist at the same time as the pulmonary fibrosis. #pulmonaryfibrosis #ild #breathlessness