Lung Scarring (Pulmonary Fibrosis): What is it and How to Manage it

Imagine constantly having to breathe through a straw. Darcy says that it can feel like that when you have pulmonary fibrosis.

What is Pulmonary Fibrosis?

The medical name for lung scarring is pulmonary fibrosis. It’s serious – so what is it? And what can you do about it?

Lung tissue is thin and lacy, but when fibrosis occurs, the tissue thickens and reduces flexibility - like any scars on your body. This means that when you breathe, it’s harder for the tissue to expand and contract, leading to less oxygen entering the bloodstream.

When lung scarring occurs, breathing requires more energy, leading to shortness of breath.

Common causes

There are known and unknown causes of pulmonary fibrosis. Exposure to toxins like asbestos, coal dust or silica can be incredibly problematic with tiny particles lodging in the lung tissue itself, causing permanent scarring.

Some medications are known to have side effects of pulmonary fibrosis - amiodarone, bleomycin, and nitrofurantoin, to name a few.

A group of diseases known as collagen vascular diseases can cause pulmonary fibrosis. This group includes systemic lupus, scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome. Lung scarring can also be influenced by your genetic make–up.

New Treatments and Research

New treatments are coming to light which alter biochemical pathways associated with pulmonary fibrosis and new antifibrotic therapies have been approved to slow lung function decline.

Increased lung inflammation is associated with pulmonary fibrosis. Pharmaceutical and plant-derived natural compounds can reduce lung inflammation to make breathing easier.

Medical advice

Anyone with pulmonary fibrosis should have a treatment plan from their medical practitioner. This should be regularly monitored, and you should never feel afraid to seek clarification or modify with your doctor if things are not working.

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes are also a critical part of your treatment plan to improve ease of breathing:

1. Reduce exposure to toxins, like cigarettes and air pollution.

2. Increase exercise incrementally. High-intensity interval training is the fastest way to do this: short bursts of intensity—for example, dance a song, rest a song or walk one lamppost, powerwalk the next lamppost.

3. Eat an anti-inflammatory diet with lots of varied fruit and vegetables for a good amount of fibre and plant bioactive compounds.

You can read more in our downloadable booklet - click here.