By Dr. Abhijit Raval, M.D., Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care
There’s a real chance that you know someone – friend, coworker, loved one – who suffers from pulmonary fibrosis, sometimes referred to as PF. You might even have questions about your own lung health.
As September is Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month, this is an excellent opportunity to learn about PF, a chronic, progressive disease that affects about 250,000 people in the U.S., with about 50,000 new cases diagnosed each year.
Overall, about 1 in 200 adults over the age of 70 may be affected by PF.
So, what do you need to know about PF?
To begin the journey, understand first that it can be difficult for a physician to accurately diagnose pulmonary fibrosis.
Diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosis
The symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis are often vague and ill-defined. Most patients complain of a cough and shortness of breath; however, those are common symptoms caused by an array of illnesses. And because of this, it takes on average around 2.8 years between the time the symptoms begin to manifest and when a correct diagnosis is made.
Reducing that timespan is critical for effective treatment.
Medical researchers are making strides in understanding PF. At AnMed, we are currently participating in the ALOFT study, a global trial examining the safety and efficacy of a research drug that it is hoped will help improve the pulmonary function of PF patients.
Our understanding of PF grows constantly. For example, researchers have learned that it is critical to have an accurate and detailed patient history, including medical, exposure, occupational and family. That is important to clue in the diagnosis and possibly treatment. A treating physician will compile such a medical biography, to include a work history, as well as a look at other family members, as there is a demonstrated genetic predisposition to PF.
In addition, we now know that a history of autoimmune disease increases the odds of developing PF or another fibrotic lung disease.
The importance of receiving an early, accurate diagnosis cannot be overstated. A thorough and systematic evaluation will include several tests, including:
- Repeated blood tests
- Breathing test (pulmonary function test)
- High-resolution CT scan
Additional tests can include a lung biopsy, either through surgical specimen collection or through a less-invasive procedure known as a bronchoscopy.
Because PF shares so many symptoms with several other lung ailments, it can be difficult to make a specific diagnosis without using a multidisciplinary approach; however, treating PF in a timely fashion requires an early and accurate diagnosis.
Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis
Once accurately diagnosed, there are a wide range of treatments that can alleviate or minimize the symptoms and progression of PF. They include:
- Oxygen therapy
- Bronchodilator therapy
- Pulmonary rehabilitation therapy
- Antifibrotic therapy
It is encouraging to know that these treatments have proven effective in slowing the progression of the disease in most instances.
Patients can also benefit from participation in a PF support group, and generally speaking, your physician can help with this through a referral to a group in your area. We have several options for support here at AnMed.
An early diagnosis is also important because of the chronic and progressive nature of PF. The quicker a patient begins treatment, the more able a physician will be to mitigate or minimize the symptoms, allowing the patient to live a life as unfettered as possible.
The message, then, is simple: if you have shortness of breath, a dry cough, unintentional weight loss, extreme tiredness, or joint and muscle aches, they might be symptoms and you should not ignore them. Be knowledgeable of your family’s medical history, and your own work and personal habits, including smoking.
Most importantly, don’t hesitate to discuss all of these factors with your health care professional.
And remember, we at AnMed are always here to help.
