Extreme Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Case Study

Pulmonary hypertension is a lung disorder. The arteries that carry blood from the heart to the lungs become narrowed, making it very hard for the blood to get through the vessels, this then causes the pressure in the arteries to increase more than usual (high blood pressure). Scientists think that the procedure starts with injury to the layer of cells that line the small blood vessels of the lungs.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, debilitating and life-threatening, interstitial lung disease of unknown etiology that has no cure (1). The median survival of patients with IPF is only 2 to 3 years. Respiratory failure resulting from this disease progression is the most frequent cause of death. Continuous damage to the alveolar epithelium and concomitant alveolar type II (ATII) cell apoptosis are thought to lead to fibroblast recruitment, accumulation and proliferation and contribute to the perpetuation of the fibrotic scarring and IPF development. ATII cells synthesize, store, and secrete

On examination, he was saturating at 96% on room air. His lung fields revealed reduced air entry but no significant wheeze or

Nurse Vincent M. Vacca, Jr. aptly described in this issue of the Nursing Journal the significance of early detection and health management of people who are or are maybe suffering from Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. He described PAH as a condition wherein a patient is having a mean pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure of greater than 25 mm

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease characterized by progressive pulmonary vascular functional and structural changes associated with an array of pathologies that eventually results in increased pulmonary vascular resistance, right heart failure, and death (Vorhies & Ivy, 2014; Wardle & Tulloh, 2013). Currently there is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, and the treatment options vary from conventional oral, inhaled, intravenous and subcutaneous medical options with the possible need for heart and/or lung transplantation (Pulmonary Hypertension Association [PHA], 2016).

Pulmonary Fibrosis is a serious disease that claims and terrorizes thousands of lives and families. Due to severity of the disease two Senators have decided to introduce an Act that is dedicated to this horrifying disease (the Pulmonary Fibrosis Research Enhancement Act (PFREA)). After the onset of symptoms of pulmonary fibrosis, a person has about 5 years of lifespan, that’s taking in consideration treatment that will be given to the patient. About 30 present of patient that receive treatment for pulmonary fibrosis with oral glucocorticoids will see improvement in their lung function. There are many studies that are being to find a cure for the disease or find a way to present it, unfortunately the studies are still on going

The most important treatment is to quit smoking, if you are a smoker, and your doctor will assist you with the program that can help you to quit, and avoid other lungs irritants. There are also medications that can help to relieve your symptoms like bronchodilators depending on the severity of your COPD, as there is short acting and long acting bronchodilators. These bronchodilators are used through inhaler which helps to deliver the medicine into your lungs. If your COPD is severe and flare up more often the Pulmonologist (doctor who studies and treats the disease of the lungs) may combine Glucocorticosteroids (steroid) with your bronchodilator inhaler. Diets and exercises also plays major roles in the treatments of COPD, meanwhile, you may be restricted from eating certain foods or eating less, or frequently to prevent symptoms to flare up. Moderate exercise can also be suggested to strengthen the muscle of your lungs and to increase your overall

1 or I ? Early fibrosis involving at least one bronchiole; inflammation similar to that caused by cigarette smoking

In COPD most attention has focused on the chronic obstructive bronchitis with fibrosis and obstruction of small airways, alveolar wall destruction (emphysema) with enlargement of airspaces and destruction of lung parenchyma, loss of lung elasticity and closure of small airways [152].

Since they have an excessive amount of mucus in their lungs, it causes them to not eat and lose a large amount of weight. Today, we have different treatment options pertaining to each individual with the disease. One treatment plan is the airways clearance, where a patient wears an inflatable vest that vibrates the chest area. This helps loosen up the lungs and lowers the mucus count in the lungs. Another form of treatment is vaccination. Cystic Fibrosis opens up a patient to a widespread of infections, since there bodies cannot fight off infections. Giving vaccines that prevent pneumonia or the flu can save the patient from developing these infections. Lastly, prescribing antibiotics and cough medicine. Since the lungs are always filled up with mucus, the patient is always prone to coughing because of all the buildup. Cough medicine will reduce the periods of coughing and clear up some of the mucus built up. This disease is extremely deadly if the right medications and treatment plans are not administered properly.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disorder, characterized by right heart catheterization, as a mean arterial pressure >25mmHg at rest in the pulmonary arteries. If left untreated, this can lead to right ventricular failure and ultimately death. PAH can be either idiopathic or concomitant with several other conditions. Following considerable deliberation, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified PAH into five major diagnostic categories (Table 1)(1). Currently there are several pharmacological treatment options for PAH which include endothelial receptor antagonists (ERA), calcium-channels blockers, prostanoids and phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5). Nevertheless, novel therapies are still in development.

Further information obtained by the auscultation of the patient 's lung indicated secretion build up causing diminished lungs sound. Shortness of Breath was evident when the patient spoke and the use of accessory muscles was apparent as I observed the respiratory rate at 23 breaths a minute. The chest was bilaterally symmetric as the patient breath. On room air, the patient’s oxygen saturation level was 87 percent. The patient spirometer results show FEV1 was at 55 percent. The inability of the patient’s lung to efficiently exchange gas lead to the patient’s SOB.

There are no cure for this disease. However, there are different treatment to prevent further deterioration of the lungs function in order to improve the quality of life of the patient by increasing capacity of their physical activity. One of the main severe complication a patient with COPD can develop is exacerbation. Increased breathlessness, increased sputum volume and purulent sputum are the signs and symptoms of exacerbation. Early detection of the signs of exacerbation can help keep the condition of the patient from worsening. The treatments of COPD mainly aims at controlling the symptoms of exacerbation such as taking inhalers. Patients who are over the age of 35 and ex-smokers with chronic cough and bronchitis are recommended to have spirometer (NICE, 2004). This is because it is possible to delay or prevent patients from developing severe case of COPD is identified before they lose their lungs functions. Oxygen therapy is another treatment for COPD as the patients with this condition has high

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease of unknown cause that to date has no pharmacologic

Emphysema Emphysema is a condition in which there is over-inflation of structures in the lungs known as alveoli or air sacs. This over-inflation results from a breakdown of the walls of the alveoli, which causes a decrease in respiratory function (the way the lungs work) and often, breathlessness. Early symptoms of emphysema include shortness of breath and cough. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis together comprise chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).