Natural Home Remedies for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Introduction

Pulmonary Fibrosis is a type of lung disorder that is chronic in nature. It results in scarring of the lungs . It is idiopathic in nature when scarring gets worse, it causes difficulty in breathing. IPF is a form of interstitial lung disease which primarily involves the interstitium.
Fibrosis is a production of fibrous connective tissue in an abnormal manner in any part of the body.

There are some other names of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis such as:

Cryptogenic fibrosing
Alveolitis
Diffuse Fibrosing Alveolitis
Usual Interstitial Pneumonitis

Causes of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Normally the exact cause is not known, but still, there are some triggering factors that can trigger the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. They are explained below :

Due to some infectious microorganisms like bacteria, viruses that can lead to IPF. Mycobacterium tuberculosis is one of the major risk factors for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
IPF can also occur from any other disorder. It is caused by some autoimmune diseases like in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma or Sjogren’s syndrome IPF can occur.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease means GERD also increases the risk of IPF. GERD is also called hyperacidity in normal language, it is a situation in which acid of the stomach comes back into the esophagus and creates irritation in the food pipe. Those people who have GERD may breathe some small tiny drops of acid which travel to the lungs. This acid damages the lungs and enhances its normal functioning.
People with a family history of IPF can be at higher risk of developing IPF. But it is present in rare cases. If in a family when two or more than two members are present with IPF then risk chances of the disorder are increased. Another form of pneumonia can develop like Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia.
Due to exposure to certain pollutants, IPF can occur in some people. It is caused by breathing or inhaling pollutant particles like silica etc. These pollutant particles create irritation in the respiratory system and also cause respiratory discomfort. It damages the lungs.
Cigarette smoking is the major cause of lung disorders. Smoking decreases the lifespan of the lungs.
Certain treatments have also become the cause of IPF, like chemotherapy and radiotherapy in cancer treatment.
Males are more prone to IPF as compared to females.

Symptoms of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

There are two main symptoms of IPF which are

Breathlessness – Difficulty in breathing is the main symptom of IPF. Initially it occurs during exercising but later on it can affect daily activities such as climbing stairs, showering etc. Scarring in lungs decreases lungs capacity to breath.
Chronic cough -Most of patients with IPF have dry cough complaints.
Other symptoms like chest pain, weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue and clubbing are also present.

Diagnosis of IPF

IPF can be diagnosed with following tests:

Chest x- ray
Complete blood test
Computed tomography
Pulmonary function test
Bronchoscopy