Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis is an isolated disease that progresses over time. There is no known direct cause for the disease. IPF affects the lungs and the body getting much needed oxygen. Some symptoms that may develop over time such as shallow breathing, fatigue, and clubbing. There are very few treatments for the disease. Personally, having a family member go through this disease, it is amazing he is still alive today.
IPF causes the lungs to become rigid, firm, scarred and over time lose their elasticity to inflate and yield the oxygen essential for the body to function. The lungs have many small air sacs called alveoli. Inside the alveoli, oxygen moves across the paper-thin walls of tiny blood vessels and into the blood. They also pick-up the waste gas, carbon dioxide, from your blood ready to be exhaled out. IPF scarring affects the alveoli, limiting the amount of oxygen that gets into the blood. According to the Cleveland Clinic “Currently, more than 80,000 adults in the United States have IPF, and more than 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year (Cleveland Clinic).”
In a normal lung will have around 300 million alveoli IPF lungs the alveoli are greatly affected and …show more content…
Researchers believe that fibrosis are a response to lung damage. The initial damage can be from a history of smoking. If the patient has had viral that has damaged the lungs can end up developing IPF. Acid reflux according to PMC is “studies have shown an increased prevalence of acid reflux in patients with IPF (Gnanapandithan, K.).” Working conditions look like a big factor people who are exposed to dust, metal, or other occupational fumes. Affected ages are 40 to 70 years old with most of the of the percentage of people 62 and up most affected. The people most affected are men over women. Lastly genetics play a role if you have a parent that suffered from it you have a chance to be
IPF causes the lungs to become rigid, firm, scarred and over time lose their elasticity to inflate and yield the oxygen essential for the body to function. The lungs have many small air sacs called alveoli. Inside the alveoli, oxygen moves across the paper-thin walls of tiny blood vessels and into the blood. They also pick-up the waste gas, carbon dioxide, from your blood ready to be exhaled out. IPF scarring affects the alveoli, limiting the amount of oxygen that gets into the blood. According to the Cleveland Clinic “Currently, more than 80,000 adults in the United States have IPF, and more than 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year (Cleveland Clinic).”
In a normal lung will have around 300 million alveoli IPF lungs the alveoli are greatly affected and …show more content…
Researchers believe that fibrosis are a response to lung damage. The initial damage can be from a history of smoking. If the patient has had viral that has damaged the lungs can end up developing IPF. Acid reflux according to PMC is “studies have shown an increased prevalence of acid reflux in patients with IPF (Gnanapandithan, K.).” Working conditions look like a big factor people who are exposed to dust, metal, or other occupational fumes. Affected ages are 40 to 70 years old with most of the of the percentage of people 62 and up most affected. The people most affected are men over women. Lastly genetics play a role if you have a parent that suffered from it you have a chance to be